Manjit Kaur

Mumbai: In yet another doping scandal, star Indian athlete Manjit Kaur could be banned up to two years for refusing to be tested by the National Anti Doping Agency (Nada) dope control officer in Patiala, last month.

According to Nada sources, the 4 x 400 metres relay gold medallist in 2006 and 2010 Asian Games is likely to be issued a notice to appear before the hearing panel. In case her explanation is found unsatisfactory by the panel, the athlete could be suspended for two years.

Sources said that the Nada dope control officer was in Patiala last month to collect samples during the Federation Cup. “Though Manjit was not participating in the meet, the dope control officer asked the athlete to be tested for dope. Manjit refused and did not turn up to give her sample which goes against the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada) rules,” an official said.

Ironically, Manjit was the only athlete among India’s women relay quartet who did not test positive in the last one year after top relay runners like Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose and Mandeep Kaur were banned for dope offences.

Meanwhile, four athletes were caught using banned substances during the Federation Cup.

The ‘A’ samples of the four were found to have contained stanozolol, methandienone anabolic steroid and methylhexaneamine stimulant. Three of them who tested positive for steroids have been provisionally suspended. Nada director general Rahul Bhatnagar said the samples were collected from the athletes who participated in discus throw, javelin and hammer throw in the April 21-23 Championships.

He said the athletes caught for doping belong to Punjab and Allahabad and no big names are involved.

“During the 16th Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Championships, Nada had collected 47 samples. According to the analytical reports of sample received from National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), four samples out of 47 have been found containing prohibited substances notified by the Wada,” Bhatnagar said.