Haryana sprinter slammed with 8-year ban
- National Anti-Doping Agency slaps Dharambir Singh a ban for 8 years.
- His career more has less has ended.
- He was barred from competing in the Rio Games after he failed a dope test.
He was earlier barred from representing the country in the Rio Olympics at the last minute for failing a dope test.
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The 200-metre runner had returned positive for an anabolic steroid in an in-competition test conducted by the NADA during the Indian Grand Prix Meet in Bengaluru on July 11.
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Since this was his second dope-related offence, the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has handed him a lengthier ban of eight years.
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"Dharambir has been handed an eight year ban by the NADA panel since this was his second offence. NADA has intimated the ban on Dharambir to IAAF and WADA," a top source told PTI.
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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.
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With the eight-year ban slapped on him, Dharambir's career is now as good as over.
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Dharambir had breached the 200m Olympics entry standard of 20.50 secs by clocking 20.45 secs -- a national record -- in the fourth Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru on July 11, the last day of qualification, which was hastily arranged by the Athletics Federation of India to give the athletes a chance to make it to the Rio Games.
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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.