Jithin Paul becomes first Indian athlete to be banned for possession of meldonium

Jithin Paul becomes first Indian athlete to be banned for possession of meldonium

SportsCafe Desk

By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

27
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The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) banned Jithin Paul for four years, making him the first Indian athlete to be banned for the possession of meldonium. Last year he was also found with possession of Vials of carnitine and injections of Mnaapohat which are also banned by the WADA.

Paul was caught possessing internationally banned drugs meldonium, carnitine and mnaapohat in the month of April last year. The vials containing these drugs were sent to National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi which confirmed the presence of meldonium. Meldonium became popular after tennis star Maria Sharapova was penalised for its possession. The NADA has now banned Jithin Paul for four years who had already been facing the suspension since May last year.

Paul’s roommate and 400m teammate Muhammed Kunju was also found with possessions of these drugs but the tests could not detect anything. In June 2017, 400m coach Mohammed Kunhi was sacked by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The NADA finally released its statement on the decision saying, “After considering all the written/oral submissions of the parties and evidence presented by both the sides, the panel concludes that athlete Mr. Jithin Paul was in possession of Prohibited Substance meldonium and violated Article 2.6 of the Anti-Doping rules of NADA 2015,” Indian Express quoted the disciplinary panel’s order.

“In the present case, the athlete has been found in possession of Prohibited Substance in his room at the National Institute of Sport, Patiala, during the search conducted by NADA on 17th April 2017 and the athlete had no reasonable justification for possession of the prohibited substance in his room.”

Paul’s lawyer Parth Goswami said that his client would take the case to the anti-doping appeal panel as the panel had not considered some aspects properly.

“The (disciplinary) panel has not considered vital aspects of this case in their order. Casual clarifications of NADA on crucial issues have been accepted and statements in defense of the athlete by international level athletes and coaches made on affidavits have been ignored without any reasoning. We will definitely appeal against this order,” said Goswami.

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