Delhi Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist in boxing Dilbag Singh of Haryana is among the 13 top players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during the Jharkhand National Games in February this year.
Rising athletics star Vipin Kasana of Delhi, who clinched gold in javelin, was among three dope-cheats who tested positive for a steroid.
Rohit Dagar (equestrian) and Rinku (wrestling) were the other two. The other ten dope offenders tested positive for a stimulant methylhexeanamine. All of them had won medals in their respective disciplines during the National Games. Their B samples also tested positive.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which had collected the in-competition urine samples, as per procedure has sent the names of the dope offenders to the respective federations and NADA's disciplinary panel.
Players who've tested positive for steroids face a two-year ban pending hearing, while the punishment for using methylhexaneamine, a stimulant, can range from a warning to a two-year ban.
When contacted, the director-general, NADA, Rahul Bhatnagar, said, “Their cases have been referred to the disciplinary panel. Based on the recommendations of the panel, NADA will take action against the defaulters.”
{{/usCountry}}When contacted, the director-general, NADA, Rahul Bhatnagar, said, “Their cases have been referred to the disciplinary panel. Based on the recommendations of the panel, NADA will take action against the defaulters.”
{{/usCountry}}According to the World Anti-Doping Agency rule, if found guilty, the athletes will not only have to return their medals, but also the prize money and monetary awards that come with the medals.
Interestingly, the money will go to NADA. “That’s the rule and the athletes will have to give back whatever they won in the form of money to us,” said Bhatnagar.