NADA to dope test discus thrower Seema Punia
Discus thrower Seema Punia will undergo a dope test as she could not be tested during the 22nd Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championships held between March 5-8 in Patiala. The dope test was postponed as the NADA officials didn’t turn up on the day of the competition.
Seema Punia has won three medals in the Commonwealth Games with her first one coming at the 2006 Melbourne Games where she won silver. She followed it up with a bronze in Delhi (2010) and another silver in Glasgow (2014). She started off the season on a high as she won a gold on the opening day of the 22nd Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championships on March 5 with a best throw of 61.05m at the NIS Patiala. But she could undergo a dope test as National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) officials reached the venue a day late.
However, the 34-year old discus thrower will now be subjected to an out-of-competition dope test before the Commonwealth Games. The NADA then asked the AFI (Athletics Federation of India) to provide a location where she can be tested. The NADA officials will now be travelling to Sonipat to collect her dope sample.Â
“We have sent NADA the details of the location in Haryana where their officials can collect her dope sample,” an official at the national camp said, reported TOI.
The official also added that Seema was not at fault as she is not bound to wait for NADA.
“NADA officials reached here late by a day. To be fair to her, Seema is not bound to wait for the NADA to come. She is not at fault,” the official said while extending support to the discus thrower.Â
Meanwhile, NADA is not likely to test the Commonwealth
The CWG team will be picked on Friday by the AFI selection committee.Â