India's Sprinting Star Dutee Chand Faces 4-Year Ban on Doping Charges; Vows to Fight Back

By: WE Staff | Friday, 18 August 2023

Dutee Chand, India's renowned sprinter, and double Asian Games silver medalist, is confronting a challenging phase in her career as she faces a 4-year ban due to doping charges. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) imposed the ban after she failed two out-of-competition dope tests for substances categorized as "other anabolic agents/SARMS", as per WADA's 2023 prohibited list. The ban took effect from January 3, while all her competitive results from December 5, 2022, are to be nullified.

Chand's counsel is determined to fight the ban, asserting "unintentional consumption" as the cause. The sprinter's achievements, including holding the national record in the 100m sprint and securing silver medals in the 2018 Asian Games, highlight her impressive career.

The banned substances, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS), typically used for medical purposes such as treating osteoporosis, anemia, and wound healing, were discovered in samples taken on December 5 and 26, 2022. Her counsel is striving to prove the consumption was unintentional, aiming to preserve Chand's reputation as a clean athlete.

Chand's achievements and dedication have placed her among India's sports icons. Her counsel emphasizes that the substances were not used to gain a competitive advantage, reinforcing her long-standing status as a clean athlete.

In the wake of this controversy, Dutee Chand's legal team is preparing an appeal to challenge the ban. The case highlights the complexities of anti-doping measures and underscores the importance of athletes' commitment to clean competition.

Chand's situation also brings attention to the challenges athletes face in ensuring the integrity of their sport and their own reputation. As she faces this hurdle, the sprinter's determination and the legal process will determine the trajectory of her career and legacy in Indian sports.