The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has informed the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and Asian champion woman shot putter Manpreet Kaur about the athlete testing positive for a banned substance.
Manpreet reportedly tested positive for dimethylbutylamine, a banned stimulant, in the Federation Cup at NIS Patiala on June 1. The substance is a ‘derivative’ of methylhexaneamine.
“Since it is a specified substance, she has not been placed under provisional suspension. Whatever medals she has won after the test will stay with her for the time being and she is free to participate in any event. However, if she is held guilty, then medals won by her after the positive result would stand forfeited,” NADA Director General Navin Agarwal told The Hindu on Wednesday.
“The AFI and the athlete were informed of the positive result on Monday.”
Manpreet, who won the gold medal in the Asian athletics championship in Bhubaneswar, was tested again during the continental event by the NADA on behalf of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on July 6. The result of this test is awaited.
In case the athlete tests positive again for the same substance at the Asian athletics championship, then NADA would explore the option of negotiating with the international federation to club both the cases for hearing by a Disciplinary Panel.
Manpreet took the No. 1 rank in the world following her gold medal winning performance of 18.86m in the Asian Grand Prix in Jinhua, China, in April and qualified for the World athletics championship to be held in London in August.
She won the titles at the Federation Cup and the Asian championship with performances of 17.04m and 18.28m respectively.
It will be interesting to see whether the AFI allows Manpreet, who can be suspended up to four years if found guilty for the doping violation, to participate in the World championship next month.
