Feb 10 2011
Anti-Doping Authorities Sanctioned Indian Weightlifters for Positive Anabolic Steroid Test
Another country that is also plagued by the use of performance enhancing drugs is India. Sports authorities in this country are already enraged about the increasing number of professional athletes caught using anabolic steroids. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the national anti doping agency caught several athletes mostly in the weightlifting sport who were taking banned substances.
Just recently, the NADA announced that at least 5 young weightlifters were handed provisional suspension because of a failed steroid test. The Anti-doping Agency criticized the Weightlifting Federation of India for its failure to police their athletes. The agency said these weightlifters participated in the National Youth Championships held at Yamunanagar, Haryana in January.
The names of the athletes were withheld while the testing for the B sample is still on going. Initial reports revealed that 4 of the weightlifters used anabolic steroids while the other one used a stimulant which is also prohibited in the sport.
The Weightlifting Federation of India, through its secretary general Sahdev Yadav, told the media that they were also saddened by the number of weightlifters caught using banned substances. “We will take strict action against the offenders. We will ban the weightlifter, coach and the state that he comes from, if found guilty,” he said. The federation is already taking the burden because of the violations committed by its athletes. The WFI have to pay the International Weightlifting Federation huge fine to allow their athletes play in the Commonwealth Games.
The National Anti-Doping Agency also noted that the use of steroids is becoming common to weightlifters. The India Railway championship held in December last year returned 8 steroid positive weightlifters. “We are shocked at the sudden spurt in positive dope cases in such a short span of time,” NADA director general Rahul Bhatnagar told the Times of India. “We have written to WFI, saying the increasing number of dope cases is worrisome and that they have to put an end to the menace,” he added.
Ped’s use is also creeping into the paralympic competitions. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) published on its website the suspension given to an Indian Powerlifter due to a positive test for anabolic steroids. Powerlifter Virender Singh was suspended for 3 years because of anti-doping rule violation.
The IPC said that Mr. Virender had an adverse analytical finding for methandienone metabolites and 19-norandrostenedione. Methandienone is commonly known as Dianabol or D-Bol while 19-norandrostenedione is popular as Andro or prohormone. These substances are all prohibited in the World-Anti Doping Code where the IPC is also a member.
The urine sample was taken from the powerlifter during an out-of-competition test in the 2010 Asian Para Games Guangzhou, China. Mr Virender did not contest the result and said he does not have the “therapeutic use exemption” which can lift the suspension. The date of the suspension was December 14, 2010, the date the sample was taken. The powerlifter will forfeit all medals, points and prizes won starting from that date. Virender will also miss the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the governing body for the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. According to its website, the organization is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. They also adhere and promote good values which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
[...] of the law enforcement authorities as well as sports organizations. In the previous months, several Indian weightlifters were sanctioned for taking steroids. The use of steroids as an image enhancing drug is also [...]