Relay runner Priyanka Panwar banned for doping
India's premier relay runner Priyanka Panwar has been banned for eight years on account of doping. National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) arrived at the verdict based on the result of a test conducted on the athlete last year. She tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug mephentermine. Priyanka was part of the team which won 4x400m relay gold medal at 2014 Asian Games.
The ban comes after Panwar's second offence, which warrants a sanction ranging from 8-year to a lifetime ban, as per NADA code. She previously tested positive for an anabolic steroid in 2011 which led to her being suspended for two years. After failing the dope test last year the 29-year-old was dropped from the 2016 Rio Olympic contingent.
In another case of doping, Asian Youth champion in javelin throw, 16-year-old Rohit Yadav, was given a one year ban after testing positive for Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
Indian athletics has had a shady history when it comes to doping. Panwar is not the first such case, and it won't also be the last. According to TOI report, since 2009, 687 Indian athletes have been tested positive for banned substances. For 2015, India ranked 3rd for the third consecutive year in WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) doping charts, after Russia and Italy.
Just this year shot-putter Manpreet kaur failed dope tests more than twice. In 2016, wrestler Narsingh Yadav was tested positive for methandienone days before his Rio outing and received a 4-year ban. Shot-putter Inderjeet Singh did not qualify for Olympics after failing dope test.
