Manipuri weightlifter Sanjita Chanu, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has been banned for four years by the National Anti Doping Agency’s (NADA) Disciplinary Panel for failing a dope test. Sanjita, 29, tested positive for an anabolic steroid – Drostanolone Metabolite – during the National Games in Gujarat in 2022, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Sanjita had won gold in 48kg ahead of Mirabai Chanu at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At the 2018 edition in Gold Coast, she was crowned champion in the 53kg category

The NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has stated that Sanjita violated Article 2.1 & 2.2 of the NADA ADR, 2021, and is therefore sanctioned with an ineligibility of four years under Article 10.2.1 of the NADA ADR, 2021. The ban will commence from November 12, 2022, the date of her provisional suspension. Sanjita will also lose her silver medal from the National Games due to the positive test.

During the disciplinary panel hearings, Sanjita claimed that she did not intentionally take any prohibited substance and submitted that she had taken all due care and caution while consuming food and supplements.

However, the panel ruled that the “present case appears to be a case of systematic doping where the prohibited substance was used by the athlete.” The panel also stated that “in the absence of any medical evidence that the athlete has consumed such prohibited substance through adulterated food, supplement or medicine, the only reasonable conclusion (is) that the athlete has intentionally consumed the said prohibited substance to enhance strength and power.” Sanjita has the option to appeal the decision of the disciplinary panel by approaching the appeals panel of the NADA within 21 days from the date of receipt of the decision.

This is not the first time that Sanjita has been embroiled in a doping controversy; she was banned by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) in 2018 after testing positive for anabolic steroid testosterone before the World Championships in November 2017. However, the doping charge was dropped against her by the world body in 2020 due to “non-conformities” in the handling of her sample.