In an interesting move, the Sports Ministry on Thursday approved the inclusion of former India opener Virender Sehwag and ex-Delhi cricketer Vinay Lamba in the Appeals Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada), India Today reported.
The decision comes in wake of a stale-mate between the ministry and BCCI over the latter’s refusal to abide by the Nada code.
This is the first time that cricketers have been included in the appeals panel for doping violations. interestingly, the two are the only sportspersons in the panel.
Meanwhile, weightlifter Kunjarani Devi was included in the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.
Incidentally, Kunjarani was handed a six-month suspension for an anti-doping violation in 2001 after testing positive for stimulant strychnine at the Asian championships.
This isn’t the first time that Kunjarani’s violations have been ignored. In 2014, she was also part of the selection panel assigned to select athletes to be honoured with Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards.