• Source:JND
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Dutee Chand, the Asian Games 2018 double silver medalist athlete, has reportedly been handed a four-year ban for failing two out-of-competition doping tests in December of the previous year. The tests revealed the presence of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in her system. This ban marks a significant setback for the accomplished Indian sprinter, who had previously earned recognition for her achievements on the international stage.

As per a report in TOI, Dutee's ban period will be effective from January 3, 2023.

During this period, "all the competitive results obtained by the athlete from the date of her sample collection, which was December 5, 2022, shall stand disqualified with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes," the Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP), headed by its chairperson Chaitanya Mahajan, said in its order.

The ADDP stated: "The athlete though has satisfied the panel with the source of ingestion of the prohibited substance but was not able to establish the no significant fault or negligence. In view of the totality of circumstances, the athlete has failed to establish that the said anti doping rule violation (ADRV) was unintentional due to following reasons:

1) The athlete instead of consulting a physician allegedly consulted her physiotherapist and consumed the medicines prescribed by her.

2) The athlete did not check the label with respect to the contents of the medicine consumed by her.

3) The athlete didn't cross check the contents of the drugs with the latest published lists of prohibited substances by WADA."

"The athlete has violated article 2.1 and 2.2 of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA)... she is hereby sanctioned with an ineligibility period of four years as per article 10.2.1.1 of the NADA ADR 2021 beginning from the date of provisional suspension i.e. January 3, 2023. It shall be noted that the athlete has failed to satisfy the panel that the ADV was non-intentional as per article 10.2.1.1 of the NADA ADR 2021," the order added.

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Dutee Chand underwent doping tests on December 5 and 26 in 2022, administered by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in Bhubaneswar. The results of these tests indicated the presence of anabolic agents andarine, ostarine, and ligandrol in her first sample, while the second sample showed traces of andarine and ostarine.

Following the initial test results, Dutee had the option to request a 'B' sample testing within a seven-day window from the date of receiving the adverse analytical finding (AAF) notice. However, she did not choose this option, which led to the provisional suspension imposed by NADA.

Dutee now has a period of 21 days from the date of receiving the decision to file an appeal with the anti-doping appeal panel (ADAP).