India goalkeeper Subrata Paul denied taking a banned substance and will appeal to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after it found traces of terbutaline in his A sample.
“Yes, he will appeal and although it is entirely between Subrata and NADA, we will help him,” said Kushal Das, the general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Paul, an Arjuna award winner in 2016, said he has seven days to present his version to NADA.
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Terbutaline is a bronchodilator and is present in commonly used expectorants administered for cough and cold. Athletes, however, must apply for a TUE (therapeutic use exemptions) certificate before using it.
Never cheated with football
“I am shocked. I have never cheated with football and trust me, I never will. All those who know me and I mean players, coaches and officials at all the clubs that I have played in and those with the national team will tell you that I am not someone who would take a banned substance,” said Paul over the phone from his residence in Sodepur, a suburb near north Kolkata, on Tuesday.
“Moreover, I have been subjected to at least 15 such tests in my time with the national team and have never failed one. There have also been random tests after I-League games too. At this stage of my career, why would I do something like this? I have asked the AIFF for advice and have also reached out to the medical staff at North East United, DSK Shivajians and the national team doctor. I have not taken any medicine without prescription,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Moreover, I have been subjected to at least 15 such tests in my time with the national team and have never failed one. There have also been random tests after I-League games too. At this stage of my career, why would I do something like this? I have asked the AIFF for advice and have also reached out to the medical staff at North East United, DSK Shivajians and the national team doctor. I have not taken any medicine without prescription,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Read | India goalkeeper Subrata Paul upbeat despite loss
Paul, 30, is with DSK Shivajians in the 10th I-League. Paul didn’t play the last match where they lost 0-7 to Bengaluru FC because, he said, the coach wanted to rest some players. Paul can continue playing but should the B sample too test positive, all points DSK get in matches he plays will be taken away. He played with North East United in the Indian Super League last year.
Paul was tested last month in Mumbai at an India preparatory camp before the friendly against Cambodia which preceded the 2019 Asian Cup qualifier away to Myanmar. As procedure, all national teams in Olympic disciplines are subjected to these tests by NADA. The respective federations have to facilitate it.
Before Paul, defender Arun Malhotra, then with East Bengal, couldn’t travel to the 2002 Busan Asian Games because he had failed a dope test. In 2011, Nishant Mehra of Mumbai FC failed a test conducted by the I-League. Failing a random dope test in the I-League in 2015, Mumbai FC’s Dane Pereira was banned.