NADA slaps 4-year ban on Bajrang for refusing to provide dope sample

THE Doping Agency (NADA) has banned Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia for four years after the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel found him guilty of violating its Rule 2.3 ("Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection...").

- FIROZ MIRZA

The Panel after much deliberation and extended hearing has come to this decision.

According to the ADDP judgement, "In the opinion of this Panel, the defence of the Athlete to no extent whatsoever can satisfy the criteria for a 'compelling justification' as outlined in Article 2.3 of the ADR. An Athlete cannot escape liability on account of unanswered inquiries which he had posed to NADA. On the contrary the Athlete is expected to cooperate fully during the testing procedure."