Three minors among slew of dope offenders handed ban of three years for early admission
Three minors, two from athletics and one from weightlifting, were among a slew of dope offenders across sports who were handed three-year bans by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) instead of four after they accepted their guilt within 20 days of being charged.
The two minor track and field athletes had tested positive for mephentermine, a drug that was used to treat low blood pressure but is mostly discontinued now. NADA handed down the reduced ban on September 29, but the list was updated only on Thursday.
The minor weightlifter had tested positive for metandienone, an androgen and anabolic steroid.
Meanwhile, four others—Jyoti (women’s middle distance/distance), Runjun Pegu (women’s javelin), and Meenu (steeplechase), as well as Saloni Tyagi (powerlifter)—have received a reduced sanction of three years for “evasion.”
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Two others, Prabhat Kumar (canoe, testosterone) and Thangtanr Naorha Meitei (wushu, mephentermine), also got a three-year ban instead of four.
The dope offenders got a one-year reduction in their ban period under the “case resolution agreement” provided in Articles 10.8 and 8.3 of the NADA Anti-Doping Rule 2021.
The maximum ban period for the first offence is four years. Still, Article 10.8 of the NADA Rules provides for “results management agreements” under which athletes can get reduced punishment based on early admission and acceptance of sanction.
Furthermore, Article 10.8.1 allows athletes charged with a four-year ban to benefit from a one-year reduction if they admit the violation and accept the penalty within 20 days of being charged.
Article 10.8.2 provides an opportunity for the athlete to enter into a Case Resolution Agreement with NADA and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) in which the applicable period of ineligibility can be agreed upon based on the facts of the case.
Published on Oct 16, 2025