Confusion Over NADA’s Update on Hima Das’ Suspension

Hima Das, a 2018 Asian Games gold Medalist, who had been recently acquitted of doping charges by the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP), was again mentioned as provisionally suspended for 16 months, effective from 22 July 2023, for a ‘whereabouts’ failure. 

According to news reports, the website mentioned that the latest decision was reached under a ‘case resolution agreement’, and the 16 months ended on  21 November 2024.

A case resolution agreement is made between the anti-doping agency and the athlete when both parties consent and the athlete agrees to accept the consequences imposed without pursuing further appeals. A reduction is applied after assessing the individual’s degree of Fault, the seriousness of the ADRV and how promptly the violation was admitted.

However, the update is no longer found on the website following confusion since she was cleared of all charges by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in April 2024, which the ADAP upheld in October 2024. 

The timeline is contentious since Hima competed in the National Inter-State meet in Panchkula until at least 29 June 2023 (in the 200m event) and also participated in a Grand Prix meet in Bengaluru in April this year.

The athlete was provisionally suspended in September 2023 for three whereabouts failures within 12 months under Article 2.4 of the National Anti-Doping Rules.