Top Runner Fails Dope Test, Suspended For 8 Years

The National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) disciplinary panel has suspended one of India’s top runners, Priyanka Panwar, for eight years. This is because she tested positive for a banned performance drug. NADA’s verdict came last Friday (Sept 8). Panwar had undergone the test last year. The panel conveyed the latest development to all authorities on Monday (Sept 11).

She tested positive for Mephentermine, a stimulant, and anabolic steroid Androsterone.

This is the second time that Panwar has failed the doping test. The eight-year is practically an end for her career.

In July 2016, NADA collected runner Priyanka Panwar’s sample during the 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships

The 29-year-old runner won the women's 4x400m relay gold in the 2014 Incheon Asiad. Panwar won along with Tintu Luka, Mandeep Kaur and MR Poovamma. She clocked a new record of 3:28.68 at that time. She was also a part of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and the core group of runners. AFI formed this core group to prepare runners for the next Olympics.

Earlier in 2011, Panwar was one of the six runners who failed a doping test before the Asian Athletics Championships -- one of the biggest doping scandals in Indian sport. At that time, she had tested positive for anabolic steroids.

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Since it was the first time, Panwar tested positive for the banned substance, NADA suspended her only for two years.

“There were many anomalies in the process of analysing the sample, violations of procedure mandated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) itself on sample testing and reporting and principles of natural justice, which will require thorough investigation,” said Panwar’s lawyer Vidushpat Singhania, Indian Express reported.

NADA director general Navin Agarwal told ANI that around 40 athletes have failed the doping test this year.

Picture credit- The New Indian Express