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Sprinter Hima Das gets clearance from NADA Appeal Panel on doping charge

India’s star sprinter Hima Das has been cleared by the NADA’s Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP) of all doping charges. The panel has exonerated Hima from the charges that had arose out of three whereabout failures in 12 months.

Last year, Das was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for the whereabout failures. However, following a hearing in March, she was cleared by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP).

In a decision made on September 4, the ADAP upheld the ruling made by the Disciplinary Panel, clearing the sprinter of her doping charges. The 2018 Jakarata Asian Games double-gold medalist, Hima, returned to action in April 2024. She competed in 200m at the Indian Grand Prix 1 on April 30 in Bengaluru.

It is not clear as to who appealed the ADDP’s decision as no further details were available. However, it was NADA who reportedly initiated the appeal as it favored the athlete.


What was the exact nature of the doping charges against Hima Das?

In September 2023, it was brought to light that Hima Das had committed three whereabout failures in a period of one year. As a result, she received a provisional suspension from the NADA. It was however not clear whether Hima’s whereabout failures were linked to missed test or filing failure.

Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), any combination of three whereabout failures- missed test and/or filing failure results in a violation. The agency looks at failures within a 12-month period. The violation carries a maximum two-year ban if proven guilty.

The Registered Testing Pool (RTP) requires that all athletes who are a part of it must provide complete address details for their overnight locations. The must also disclose the name and address of each location they may train at, work or carry any other scheduled activities.

Indian athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair had earlier said that Hima Das has been on ‘medical investigation and treatment’. She suffered a hamstring injury in April 2023 and also had a lower-back pain issue bothering her for some years.

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