Middle-distance runner Parvej Khan gets six-year doping ban
Indian middle-distance runner Parvej Khan has received a six-year ban for testing positive for a banned substance and missing three dope tests within a 12-month period.
Last year, Parvej had made a big impact with his feats in the American collegiate athletics before testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) at National Inter-State championships at Panchkula, Haryana, after which he was provisionally suspended. EPO is a red blood cell boosting drug that helps in enhancing the endurance of an athlete in the doping world. In the medical field, it is used to boost red blood cells in cancer patients or for those who might need it while undergoing treatment for cancer. Parvej did not request analysis of Sample B and thus, accepted the finding contained in Sample A. The punishment for such an offence is a four-year ban.
However, the 20-year-old from Haryana had also missed three dope tests on May 12, July 10 and December 5 in 2023. Missing three dope tests within a 12-month period leads to a two-year ban. Parvej had seeked the reduction of the sanction to a minimum of one year since those were out-of-competition tests.
In the decision dated August 6, the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) of the National Anti-Doping Agency said, “It is undisputed that the Athlete’s Sample has tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substance and Mimetics which is a nonspecified substance as per WADA’s 2024 Prohibited List. As per Article 2.1 of the AntiDoping Rules 2021, it is the personal duty of every athlete to ensure that no prohibited substance, as defined, enters his or her body.”
“The Panel also notes that the athlete has committed an additional anti-doping rule violation prior to the issuance of notification concerning the first violation within a 12-month timeframe following the first violation. Consequently, the period of ineligibility shall be calculated for both violations, which shall be six (6) years.”
Since Parvej had been provisionally suspended, his period of ineligibility for 6 years commences from August 28 last year when he was notified about the presence of a prohibited substance in his sample causing adverse analytical findings.
The ban also means that all competitive results obtained by Parvej from the date of sample collection, i.e., June 27, 2024, shall be disqualified with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes.
ADDP’s latest list of sanctioned athletes also includes quartermiler Summy. The two-year ban of the athlete from Haryana begins from Oct 14, 2024. The 21-year-old was a member of the 4x400m mixed relay quartet which grabbed a bronze medal at the World U-20 Championships in 2021.
Two more athletes, Reshma Datta Kevate and Sreerag A.S., have been banned for four and five years respectively.
Chennai-based racing car driver Anirudha Arvind also features in the list. He has been banned for three months, beginning from August 22, after testing positive for a banned substance.
Boxer Rohit Chamoli, who clinched a gold medal in the 48kg category at the Asian Junior Championships in Dubai in 2021, has received a two-year ban starting from August 23.
Weightlifters Deepak Singh and Simranjeet Kaur have been banned for four and five years, respectively. While Deepak’s period of ineligibility begins from September 25, 2024, Simranjeet’s starts from August 22.
Wrestler Arju and kabbadi player Mohit Nandal have also received four-year bans. Arju’s suspension commences from June 11, 2024, while Nandal’s period of ineligibility starts from August 14.
Published on Sep 02, 2025