The disciplinary panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has given a historic verdict banning Amit Dahiya of Haryana for four years for sending someone else for his dope sample during the National Javelin Throw Open Championship last year.
In the competition held on 16 April 2019 in Sonepat, Haryana, Dahiya had finished third with his best effort of 68.21 meters. NADA officials then asked 21-year-old Dahiya to give dope samples, but instead, he sent someone else to give a sample.
During the verification process, officials collecting NADA’s dope samples came to know that the person who came to give the urine sample was not a bronze medalist. Dahiya’s proxy, after sensing that the plan has failed, fled from the room where the specimens were being collected.
Dahiya was temporarily suspended on 16 July last year and Nada referred his case to the ADDP (Disciplinary Panel) on 9 January. The ADDP has now ruled to suspend him for four years from the date of temporary suspension.
NADA in its statement said, “In a landmark decision by the National Anti Doping Agency, javelin thrower Amit Dahiya has been penalised with intentionally evading sample collection and trying to cheat anti-doping officials during the 2nd National Javelin Throw Open Championship 2019 held at SAI Center, Sonipat.”
The statement also emphasized that this was the first time NADA has taken action in a case in which the athlete evaded sample collection and successfully proceeded against him under the prescribed provisions.
Further, the order also gave information about the minutes of the development in the case as it read,
“NADA presented the case before the ADDP on January 9, 2020. During the hearing, the justification provided by the athlete was found to be unsatisfactory. The hearing panel concluded that the athlete Amit Dahiya intentionally evaded submitting his urine sample for testing. It therefore passed the suspension order, rendering Amit Dahiya ineligible for a period of four years from the date of provisional suspension.”
