Top Indian hamster Rachna Kumari was banned for 12 years on Tuesday after failing multiple doping tests by the international federation's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), effectively ending her career.
The 30-year-old Kumari's dope sample, which was taken out of competition by the AIU last year, was found to contain the steroids Stanozolol, Metandienone and Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT) and Clenbuterol. “The AIU has banned Kumari (KM) Rachna (India) for 12 years from November 24, 2023 for the presence/use of a banned substance (Stanozolol, Metandienone, DHCMT, Clenbuterol). DQ results as of September 24, 2023,” the AIU said in a tweet.
“…and disqualification of the athlete's results on and since September 24, 2023, with all consequential consequences, including loss of titles, awards, medals, points prizes and appearance fees.” This was Kumari's second anti-doping rule violation. She had served a four-year ban from March 18, 2015 to March 17, 2019 for committing an anti-doping rule violation related to the presence of Metenolone in a sample collected on February 10, 2015.
Her two urine samples taken by the AIU out of competition in Patiala on September 24 last year tested positive for anabolic androgenic steroids.
The AUI explained that two urine samples were collected because the first did not have a suitable specific gravity for analysis as defined in the 2023 WADA International Standard for Testing and Investigations.
Another competition sample taken by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on November 1, 2023 during the National Games in Goa returned an Atypical Finding (ATF) for Clenbuterol. NADA investigated the matter.
In December 2023, following a request from the AIU, NADA agreed to transfer its responsibility for the investigation to the ATF for Clenbuterol. The AIU made the request to NADA because the two urine samples tested by the international body (AIU) also returned ATF for Clenbuterol.
The athlete did not respond or provide any information to the AIU regarding the ATF investigation prior to December 22. The ATFs for Clenbuterol were subsequently prosecuted as (additional) adverse analytical findings in accordance with Article 5.1 of the WADA Code.
The AIU noted that the athlete had committed the first doping violation in 2015 and ruled that her current case will be considered a second violation, which will, however, carry more severe sanctions, including the application of aggravating circumstances.
A second doping violation normally carries a ban of eight years, but she was given a twelve-year ban due to “aggravating circumstances”.
“In accordance with Rule 10.9.3(a), the Adverse Analytical Findings (including the ATFs raised as Adverse Analytical Findings) in the samples collected on September 24, 2023 and November 1, 2023 (by NADA) shall be considered together as one be considered in its entirety. (second) violation,” the AIU said in its decision.
In addition, Rule 10.9.3(a) confirms that the penalty imposed will be based on the offense subject to the more severe penalty, including the application of aggravating circumstances.
“The AIU believes that the presence of multiple prohibited substances provides clear evidence that the athlete has used multiple prohibited substances and/or used a prohibited substance on multiple occasions, which falls squarely within the definition of aggravating circumstances.” The AIU added: “The four (4) year period of ineligibility that would otherwise apply… will therefore be extended in accordance with Rule 10.4.
“In accordance with Rule 10.9.1(a), the period of ineligibility to be imposed is therefore a period of ineligibility of twelve (12) years.” The AIU served Kumari with a notice of charge, imposed a provisional suspension and asked her to provide a written explanation for the adverse analytical findings. Kumari then requested AIU to analyze her B sample.
When the analysis of the B sample also confirmed the results of the A sample, the AIU sent Kumari a message stating that it was “confident that she had committed anti-doping rule violations.” Kumari was part of the 68-member Indian athletics team that competed in the Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 23 to October 8). She had finished ninth in the women's hammer throw on September 29 with an effort of 58.13 meters.
Kumari had won gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar in June with a throw of 65.03 metres. She had also won a bronze medal at the recent Goa National Games with a throw of 59.85 metres. She has not won any international medal.
Topics mentioned in this article