Kiran Baliyan among top Indian athletes suspended for doping, Bajrang Punia’s name no longer on NADA list
Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist Kiran Baliyan is among several prominent Indian athletes who have been suspended provisionally for doping violations.
The development came to light after an updated list was published on the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) website as of September 11, 2024.
However, in a surprising turn of events, wrestler Bajrang Punia, who had challenged NADA’s provisional suspension, does not appear on the updated list, even though his name was present in the previous version.
Kiran Baliyan bagged a bronze medal in shot put at the Hangzhou Asian Games. She tested positive for metandienone, which is a potent anabolic steroid listed under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substances. The steroid is banned at all times and results in a four-year ban as per the WADA Code.
Going by NADA's website, it has been known that Kiran Baliyan's samples were collected during the Federation Senior National Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where she secured second place behind Abha Khatua.
Several athletes face suspension along with Kiran Baliyan
While Kiran Baliyan is a key highlight, several other Indian athletes have tested positive and have been found guilty, resulting in them being suspended.
Manju Bala, the Incheon Asian Games medalist in hammer throw, has also been provisionally suspended. She tested positive for multiple banned substances, including dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone and SARMS LGD-4033 (ligandrol), during out-of-competition testing and at the Senior Inter-State National Athletics Meet in Panchkula, where she won gold.
In wrestling, young grappler Arju, a former U23 World Championships medalist, tested positive for stanozolol during an out-of-competition test.
Prominent track athletes also feature in this latest list. 3000m steeplechase runner Chhavi Yadav tested positive for drostanolone, another anabolic steroid, which also results in a ban of four years.
Parvej Khan, a standout long-distance runner who made his mark in the NCAA in the United States, tested positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), a substance frequently used by endurance athletes to enhance performance. He delivered an exceptional performance at the Senior Inter-State Nationals in Panchkula.
Javelin thrower DP Manu, who had previously been reported, is also on the list after testing positive for methyltestosterone, another steroid that can lead to a four-year suspension.
Additionally, Federation Athletics Meet silver medalist Shalini Chaudhary was found to have used metandienone. Quarter-miler Deepanshi and middle-distance runner Parvej Khan are among a long list of several other names.
Badminton, wushu and weightlifting hit by doping cases
Athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling remain the sports most heavily affected by doping. However, other sports such as badminton and wushu have also seen cases.
Indian badminton doubles player Krishna Prasad Garaga tested positive for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a substance banned for male athletes as it helps produce testosterone.
Wushu, a lesser-known sport, has also seen a spike in doping cases. Athletes T Menaka Devi and Goutam Sharma have been found to have used mephentermine, a stimulant banned by WADA.