New Delhi: India’s ace sprinter Dutee Chand has been banned for four years after failing an out-of-competition dope test for selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in December 2022.
The 26-year-old, who holds the national 100m record of 11.17 seconds, was tested twice by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in Bhubaneswar on December 5 and 26, 2022. She was provisionally suspended on January 3, 2023, and her ban will be effective from that date.
SARMs are a class of drugs that are designed to mimic the effects of testosterone. They are often used by athletes to improve their performance, but they are also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Chand has denied intentionally doping and has said that she will appeal the ban. She is the first Indian athlete to be banned for four years for doping.
The ban is a major blow to Chand’s career. She is a two-time silver medalist at the Asian Games and was considered to be one of India’s best chances of winning a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The ban also raises questions about the doping culture in Indian athletics. Chand is not the first Indian athlete to be caught doping, and there have been concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the country’s anti-doping system.
The four-year ban is a significant punishment, but it is important to remember that Chand is innocent until proven guilty. She has the right to appeal the ban, and she should be given the opportunity to clear her name. She was planning to retire after Paris Olympics 2024.
In the meantime, the ban is a reminder that doping is a serious problem in sport, and that athletes who cheat will be punished. It is also a reminder that the Indian anti-doping system needs to be strengthened to ensure that clean athletes have a fair chance to compete.