Sanjita Manipur weightlifter get 4 years ban on failed Dope test
Guwahati: Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Sanjita Chanu has been banned for four years by a panel constituted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for a metabolite of banned anabolic steroid Drostanolone. This substance is included in the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the United States, Drostanolone is a treatment for breast cancer, and athletes use it to increase strength due to its high protein content.
Sanjita, who finished second behind Mirabai Chanu in the women’s 49 kg weight division at the 36th National Games in Gujarat, will now be stripped of the silver medal. Sanjita’s dope sample was collected at the National Games in October last year.
In that case, Odisha’s Sneha Soren, who won the bronze medal, will move to second place.
This is not the first time a Manipuri weightlifter has been suspended for failing a dope test. In 2018, the 2011 Asian Championships medalist was banned by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for testing positive for the anabolic steroid testosterone before the US World Championships in November 2017.
However, in 2020 the International Weightlifting Federation withdrew the charge against him due to “inconsistency” in the handling of his urine sample. The IWF had cleared his name based on WADA’s recommendation.
“I’ve been in this situation before. But I can’t figure out how it happened. I’ve been careful about my diet and everything since this incident. I check my supplements carefully and I ask if they are all dope-free,” she had said.
Sanjita, who won gold in the 48kg weight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and 53kg gold at the Gold Coast edition in 2018, now has a chance to appeal against the latest ban.
However, in both cases, she would lose on two counts. If she appeals, it will take time to clear her name before the Asian Games later this year and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
