New Delhi, Sep 12: Quartermiler Priyanka Panwar has been banned for eight years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), effectively bringing the curtains down on her controversial career.Panwar’s ban period would count from July 29, 2016, the day she was provisionally suspended for failing a dope test for banned stimulant mephentermine during the Inter-State Athletics Championships in Hyderabad from June 28 to July 2.
The 2014 Incheon Asian Games gold medallist was handed out the maximum punishment by NADA since it was her second dope offence.In 2011, the Uttar Pradesh athlete had failed a dope test — along with five other top women quartermilers — for anabolic steroid Ginseng.
All six were banned for two years each and later returned to the national camp in 2013. “Under Article 10.7.1, ineligibility of eight years is imposed on Priyanka Panwar, resident of Muzaffarnagar, UP.
She has been handed suspension for violation of 2.1 of the anti-doping code,” read an excerpt from NADA’s verdict, accessed by The Tribune.“We also direct that under rule 10.8, all competitions from the date of sample collection shall be disqualified and consequences of forfeiture of medals, points and standings thereof,” the verdict added.
Panwar was part of the national 4x400m team at the Hyderabad inter-state meet where the quartet had won the bronze medal. The medal would now be forfeited.
Panwar can approach NADA’s appellate authority against the disciplinary panel’s verdict. However, according to a NADA source, she’s unlikely to do so since the verdict itself is comprehensive.
Panwar was part of the Rio Olympics-bound 4x400m relay squad and had been training with the core group since early 2015. However, just days before the Rio Games, her name was dropped from the contingent for returning positive. She was replaced Ashwini Akkunji.
Source Tribune India
