New Delhi: The provisional suspension on the
10 dope tainted athletes, including one in Commonwealth Games
squad, was on Wednesday lifted by NADA disciplinary committee
following WADA`s decision to shift the banned stimulant from
`non-specified` to `specified` substance category.
NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar told reporters that the
provisional suspension on all 10 athletes whose `B` samples
returned positive for Methylhexanemaine has been lifted
following the WADA decision but they will still have to wait
for a final verdict on the punishment on September 25.
Counsel for the athletes, R K Anand, however, said that
three swimmers and two track and field athletes have been let
off with a warning and they can now take part in any
competition.
"The provisional suspension on all the 11 athletes has
been lifted today. WADA had indicated that the NADA panel can
take lenient view on the athletes in view of its decision to
shift Methylhexanemaine from `non-specified` to `specified`
category from next year," Bhatnagar said.
"The panel will give a final decision on the punishment
of the athletes on September 25," he added.
Anand, however, said that shot putter Saurabh Vij, discus
thrower Akash Antil, and swimmers Richa Mishra, Jyotsana
Pansare and Amar Muralidharan have been let off and they can
now take part in any competition.
"Five of them have been let off. The shot putter, the
discus thrower and the swimmers are let off and they can take
part in any event. There was arguments in the case of six
wrestlers and decision on them will be known on September 25,"
he told reporters after the hearing.
Bhatnagar said the athletes will have to wait till
September 25 whether they can take part in next month`s
Commonwealth Games.
"The provisional suspension has been lifted but the NADA
panel is yet to give is final verdict which they will do on
September 25. The panel will give its decision on the
punishment to the athletes and if they are let off with a
warning they may be able to take part in the Games," he said.
Shot putter Saurabh Vij has been named in Commonwealth
Games athletics squad while swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsana
Pansare, wrestlers Rajiv Tomar, Sumit, Mausam Khatri and
Gursharanpreet Kaur have been replaced after their dope flunk.
Others who had tested positive but were not part of the
Games squad were wrestlers Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh,
discus thrower Akash Antil, swimmer Amar Muralidharan.
Weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu, whose `B` sample has also
tested positive for Methylhexanemaine, will be heard by the
NADA panel on September 28.
Swimming Federation of India Secretary Virender Nanavati,
however, said it could be difficult for the swimmers to come
back to the Commonwealth Games` squad as the matter is very
complicated.
"I think it is a unique case. We have named replacements
and it would need IOA approval as well as from our selection
committee to take them back," he said.
"I have to see WADA regulations but I think even if they
are let off (by NADA panel) they would need another test that
they are negative of any banned substance. It will be very
complicated (to take them back to Games` squad)," he said.
World Anti-Doping Agency in its Executive Committee
meeting in Montreal on September 18 had decided to shift
Methylhexanemaine from `non-specified` category to `specified
substances` in its 2011 list of prohibited substances.
The punishment for use of `specified substances` ranges
from a warning to two-year ban whereas an offence for taking
`non-specified substance` would attract two-year ban.
PTI
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