NADA panel lifts suspension on 11 dope-tainted athletes

New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) The provisional suspension on the
11 dope tainted athletes, including one in Commonwealth Games
squad, was Wedneday lifted by India's NADA disciplinary
committee following World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to
shift the banned stimulant from 'non-specified' to 'specified'
substance category.
National Anti-Doping Agency Director General Rahul
Bhatnagar told PTI that the provisional suspension on all 11
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 (Wednesday). 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. MORE PTI PDS
KAB


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