NADA slaps eight-year ban on sprinter Dharambir Singh for failing dope test

Dharambir Singh, the Haryana sprinter, who was barred from representing the country in the 2016 Rio Olympics at the last minute for failing a dope test, has been slapped an eight-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

Singh had become the first Indian in 36 years to qualify for the 200 metres event for Olympics. Dharambir, who hails from Ajayab village in Rohtak district of Haryana, sealed the Rio spot by clocking 20.45 for a national record in the Indian Grand Prix held in Bengaluru earlier this month.

His impressive timing had, however, raised suspicions in some quarters as he has been erratic in his performance for some time and has been training outside the national camp in Rohtak with his personal coach.

The 200-metre runner had returned positive for an anabolic steroid in an in-competition test conducted by the NADA.

Since this was his second dope-related offence, the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of NADA has handed him a lengthier ban.

The 27-year-old Haryana-lad was earlier stripped of his gold medal won in 100m race during the National Inter-State Championships in 2012 for evading a mandatory dope test.