NADA Disciplinary Panel Imposes 4-Year Ban on Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu

In an order dated March 31, 2023, the Disciplinary Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) imposed a 4-year ban upon Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu, the two-time Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion from Manipur, after failing a dope test.

In the previous year, her dope sample was taken during the 36^th edition of the National Games of India held in Gujarat. Later, she tested positive for Drostanolone Metabolite, an anabolic steroid. The said substance is included in the prohibited list issued by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA).

The panel has held her to be in violation of the provisions of the NADA Anti-Doping Rules, 2021 and accordingly imposed a sanction banning her for a period of four years with effect from the day she was provisionally suspended (i.e., November 12, 2022) as per the rules.

The panel rejected her contentions that consumption of said substance was unintentional on her part and the necessary due care was taken in following her diet, due to lack of medical evidence in support of the same. Thereafter, the panel held that the said prohibited substance was taken intentionally to “enhance strength and power” and ordered the forfeiture of medals, points and prizes secured from September 30, 2022, onwards. Hence, Chanu is set to lose the silver medal she won in the National Games.