Arjun handed a four-year ban

Discus thrower’s argument over volume of urine was rejected.

Discus thrower Arjun has been handed a four-year suspension by a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel.

Based on the outcome of the test conducted by a laboratory in Cologne, Germany, discus thrower Arjun has been handed a four-year suspension by a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel.

In unusual circumstances, the National Dope Testing Laboratory in Delhi seems to have conducted an isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) analysis of Arjun’s samples, collected during the Indian Grand Prix on April 24 and April 30, 2016, in the first instance. It is not known what prompted the NDTL to do the IRMS analysis as it is done following finding of abnormal values for endogenous steroids.

When it returned a negative result, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) asked NDTL to send the samples to Cologne, where Arjun’s samples tested positive.

On the basis of the finding, the disciplinary panel, headed by Nalin Kohli, held the athlete guilty for a doping violation and handed him a four-year suspension from the date of his provisional suspension on December 10, 2016.

The panel rejected Arjun’s argument that the volume of urine mentioned in various documents were different (as the approximate volume is mentioned). It also set aside doubts over the chain of custody.

Sumit exonerated

Another disciplinary panel, headed by Bina Gupta, exonerated wrestler Sumit Sehrawat of the charge of anti-doping rule violation for “evading sample collection.”

Sehrawat’s counsel Vidushpat Singhania argued that the athlete had left the competition venue even before the doping control officer approached him during the All-India Police Cluster Championship in October last year.

The panel said “even though the charge is that of evasion, the precondition of notifying the athlete has not been done” as per the WADA and NADA rules.