Indian athlete Sudhir receives two-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Para powerlifting athlete Sudhir for a period of two years for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code (the Code).

The Indian athlete returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a prohibited substance in a urine sample provided in-competition on 4 August 2022 during the Men’s up to 88kg competition at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The test was conducted by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in its role as the Major Event Organisation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The prohibited substance was morphine. The substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 Prohibited List under the class S7 (Narcotics). It is a specified substance for the purposes of the Code.

The CGF had initial results management authority for the athlete’s case, pursuant to the CGF anti-doping rules (CGF Rules), in relation to determining whether the athlete had committed an ADRV and the disqualification of any results from the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

On 21 July 2023, the CGF’s independent tribunal (Sport Resolutions) issued a reasoned decision confirming that the athlete had committed an ADRV and the disqualification of the athlete’s results from the Men’s up to 88kg competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, together with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of all related medals, points and prizes.

Following this, the matter was transferred to the IPC as the international federation for the athlete’s sport (Para powerlifting) – to determine any further applicable consequences for the athlete, including any period of ineligibility as per the terms of the Code.

The athlete was provisionally suspended by the IPC on 11 August 2023 pending a resolution of his case.

The athlete accepted the commission of the ADRV, and the consequences proposed by the IPC. As a result of his violation, the athlete will be ineligible for competition and other sporting activities (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) for two years, from the date the athlete last competed, on 19 December 2022 to 18 December 2024.

All results obtained by the athlete from the date the athlete’s sample was collected (4 August 2022) through to the start of the period of Ineligibility (19 December 2022) are also disqualified, with all resulting Consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in their bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (the WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC has established the IPC Anti-Doping Code in compliance with the general principles of the WADC, including the WADC International Standards, expecting that, in the spirit of sport, it will lead the fight against doping in sport for athletes with an impairment.