NADA panel punishes athlete for flouting ban

In a strong message to athletes under doping sanctions, the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) has slapped an additional four-year ban on national-level athlete Shipra Sarkar for participating in competitions despite serving a four-year doping ban.

- Avishek Roy

Shipra, a middle-distance runner, was suspended for four years, from June 29, 2020 to June 28, 2024, after she tested positive for androgens in an out-of-competition test conducted in Kolkata in February 2020. The Eastern Railway athlete from West Bengal had also approached the Anti Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP), which upheld the decision of ADDP.

The 30-year-old, however, flouted rules during her ineligibility period and participated in the All India Inter-Railways Athletics Championships for two successive years, in 2022 and 2023. She competed in 800m and 1,500m at these meets, which are held to select the Railways teams for India’s top domestic competitions.