Weightlifters May Face 8-Year Ban for Second Doping Offence

Indian weightlifters Veerender Singh (men’s 102 kg) and Hansraj (men’s 109 kg) might face an eight-year ban for failing the dope test for the second time. The National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA’s) dope control officer collected the urine sample of Veerender Singh on Aug 29 during the 67th Inter-Services Weightlifting Championship in Pune, revealing the presence of ‘clomifene’ whereas the sample of Hansraj was collected on Aug 28 during the All-India Railway Championship in Mumbai, which tested the presence of’metandienone’ and ‘dehydrochloromethyl’.

The National Anti-Doping Agency has previously sanctioned both athletes for their first violations. Veerender Singh was sanctioned in 2019, and Hansraj was banned in 2015. Both are currently suspended by NADA.

Article 10.9.1 of the National Anti-Doping Rules, 2021, prescribes that the period of ineligibility for a second violation can extend up to twice the period of ineligibility when treated as if it were a first violation. Except in a few cases, a third violation will result in a lifetime ban. Article 14 of the NADA Rules 2021 further prescribes that NADA must publicly disclose any athlete or other person who is notified of a potential anti-doping rule violation by Prohibited Substances or Prohibited Methods.