Indian Powerlifter Suspended after Anti-Doping Rule Violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that the Indian Powerlifter Mr. Virender has been suspended for three years for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Virender returned an adverse analytical finding for methandienone metabolites and 19-norandrostenedione (both exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids) in a urine sample provided on 14 December 2010 in an out-of-competition test at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games in China.

Such substances are included in the 2010 Prohibited List and consequently prohibited under the IPC Anti-Doping Code, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC).

Upon notification, Mr. Virender informed the IPC that he did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption to explain the adverse analytical finding and that he accepted the Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

In accordance to the IPC Anti-Doping Code, Mr. Virender will serve a three year suspension for the offence dating from 14 December 2010, the date the sample was taken. All results obtained from 14 December 2010 will be disqualified with all the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

According to the IPC Anti-Doping Code, it is each athlete's personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter his or her body. Furthermore, each athlete is responsible for any prohibited substances found in their bodily specimen, regardless of how it entered their body.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code (January 2004) to prevent in the spirit of fair play, doping in sport for Paralympic athletes. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.

For further information, please visit www.paralympic.org