CHENNAI: In a rare occasion, domestic cricketer Rajan Kumar has tested for steroids as per National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) latest update on its website. According to the provisionally suspended athletes’ list, Rajan, an Uttarakhand cricketer has tested positive for multiple steroids – Drostanolone, Metenolone and Clomifene (SERM and used to treat infertility). Indian woman footballer Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, tested positive for anabolic steroid Metandienone and faces a four-year ban. Rajan's last match was against Delhi in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group D match on December 8 last year. If he had tested before that match, it needs to be seen whether Uttarakhand's match would be counted legitimate.
Former India sprinter and Olympian S Dhanalakshmi was handed an eight-year ban after she opted for case resolution agreement under NADA. She was earlier banned under the same case resolution for three years after she tested positive for steroid metandienone. The Tamil Nadu sprinter made a comeback last year and tested positive for drostanolone in July during India Open Athletics in Sangrur.
Gaurav Patel (athletics), Khushboo Kumari (weightlifting), Achalveer Karwasra (boxing) and Siddhant Sharma (polo) are other prominent players on the list. Interestingly, one Khushboo had won gold at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan last year. Gaurav is a junior javelin thrower. A polo player (Siddhant Sharma) tested positive for cocaine.
Smriti, Jemimah in expanded testing pool list
The NADA has also expanded its Registered Testing Pool to 347 this year. India women cricket stars Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues have been part of the list that includes men like India captain Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant.
Once again, athletics tops the chart with 118 names that include stars like Avinash Sable (steeplechase) and Murali Sreeshankar. The NADA has added 120 names this year for the first quarter.