India footballer Subrata Paul has been let off with a warning and his suspension revoked by the National Anti-Doping Agency that had found him to be in violation after he tested positive for banned for Terbutaline.
The Anti-doping body’s Disciplinary panel stated that Paul successfully proved that the violation was not intentional. Nada has instead directed the All India Football Federation to take action against the team doctor, who admitted to have failed to take care in prescribing medicine, which led to Subrata’s violation. Nada also pulled up AIFF for negligence as they failed to provide guidelines for the team doctor to follow.
Veteran @IndianFootball goalkeeper Subrata Paul escapes with a warning as NADA doesn't impose any ban. #FOOTBALL #DOPE #NADA.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 5, 2017
Paul had tested positive for the banned substance during an out-of-competition dope test in March this year. His ‘A’ sample has been found positive. He would have faced a ban of four years if his ‘B’ sample Test had also returned positive. However, he refused to undergo a ‘B’ sample test in May. Paul has pleaded not guilty and said that he will prove his innocence.
Nada had not suspended Paul due to the fact that the drug, Terbutaline Beta-2 Agonist was a “specified substance.” This allowed Paul to play the Federation Cup with his club DSK Shivajians in Cuttack last month. Paul had applied for a voluntary suspension after his team’s exit from the tournament on May 13.