The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has expressed concern over the procedural lapses on the part of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) while dealing with the positive cases in athletics. IAAF also wants all doping cases to be expedited.
On July 6, NADA's director-general, Rahul Bhatnagar, had informed the IAAF that it wanted the two positive cases of Mandeep Kaur and Jauna Murmu for adjudication.
But in an e-mail reply to Bhatnagar, IAAF director (medical and anti doping department), Gabriel Dolle, said the IAAF did not have a problem provided NADA complied with IAAF anti-doping rules.
"Should the athletes seek reduction of the applicable sanction on the grounds of exceptional circumstance to adjourn the hearing, NADA should refer the matter to the IAAF doping review board for determination," Dolle said in his mail.
Under the exceptional circumstance, athletes can get reprieve in sanction.
The IAAF also said its review board decision would be binding on the NADA panel (IAAF rule 38.16). "Under IAAF rules, the decision rendered by the first instance panel in the case of international-level athletes may be appealed exclusively to the Court of Arbitration of Sports (IAAF rule 42.3)," he wrote.
The IAAF, however, raised concerns over NADA's lapse while dealing with the positive cases, particularly the case of thrower Saroj Sihag. The athlete's right to be present at the analysis of the 'B' sample was reprieved. "Such a departure from the results management procedure is not acceptable and we enjoin you to ensure that such situation does not occur in future. The other crucial point we would like to emphasis is the timely resolution of the doping cases in athletics, we can say that our experience so far with NADA in this regard is far from satisfactory," said Dolle.
{{/usCountry}}The IAAF, however, raised concerns over NADA's lapse while dealing with the positive cases, particularly the case of thrower Saroj Sihag. The athlete's right to be present at the analysis of the 'B' sample was reprieved. "Such a departure from the results management procedure is not acceptable and we enjoin you to ensure that such situation does not occur in future. The other crucial point we would like to emphasis is the timely resolution of the doping cases in athletics, we can say that our experience so far with NADA in this regard is far from satisfactory," said Dolle.
{{/usCountry}}The IAAF also pointed out that timely resolution of doping related matters were of paramount importance and urged NADA to ensure that all current doping cases from 2011 (23 in total) were expedited.
The IAAF also stated that "NADA should keep the international body and AFI informed on the development of the procedure of 'B' analysis, provisional suspension date of hearing, final decision and appeals."