Javelin thrower Davinder Singh from Punjab has tested positive for marijuana, a drug produced from the cannabis plant. Traces of the drug were found in his urine sample, which was collected during the third Indian Grand Prix athletics championship in May.
The National Anti-Doping Agency confirmed that amount of marijuana found in Singh’s ‘A’ sample was “well above” the threshold level. But since marijuana falls under the “specified substance” category in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list of the performance-enhancing drugs, Singh hasn’t been suspended yet.
Testing positive for “unspecified” substances leads to an immediate suspension. Specified substances, however, don’t lead to a suspension since they can be ingested involuntarily.
Singh will now have to appear before Nada’s disciplinary panel for a hearing and has confirmed that he doesn’t want to go in for his ‘B’ sample testing, said Navin Agarwal, Nada director general. “If the disciplinary panel does decide to suspend Singh, he could face a ban ranging from two years to four years,” added Agarwal.
Marijuana is a banned substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Its possession and consumption is a criminal offence, which could also lead to a jail term.
When asked about potential action against Singh under the NDPS Act, Agarwal said, “It is something that we are looking at but we haven’t decided upon it. We could invoke it, considering that it is the first time in the recent past that we have had a doping case related to marijuana.”
However, sources close to Singh said they are hopeful of him being let go with a warning as it is a first-time offence and that he can participate in next month’s Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. Singh will be allowed to participate only if the Athletics Federation of India accepts his entry.
Recently, Singh, who is from the army, had joined world junior champion Neeraj Chopra by becoming the second javelin thrower to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in August. However, after being tested positive for marijuana his participation remains in the dark.
Agarwal also said that there were at least two other cases of doping discovered at the Indian Grand Prix. “Haryana discus thrower Prashant Malik and Kerala 110 m hurdler D Sreekanth have been placed under suspension,” Agarwal said.