Shivpal’s dope ban reduced after supplement

Shivpal was given a four-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency's disciplinary tribunal in August after he tested positive for anabolic steroids like methandienone.

Shivpal Singh, a javelin thrower who had won silver at the Asian Championships, had his four-year suspension reduced to one year after the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) appeals tribunal agreed that the supplement he had used was tainted.

The National Dope Testing Laboratory discovered methandienone in the dietary supplement "prime testo booster" (NDTL). When filling up his doping control form, the appellant admitted to using "prime testo booster." Since a long time ago, the appellant had been using a dietary supplement with a formula comparable to "prime testo booster."

After Shivpal tested positive for anabolic steroids, including methandienone, the National Anti-Doping Agency's disciplinary tribunal in August imposed a four-year suspension on him.

The appeals panel, led by Abhinav Mukerji, further ordered NADA to take proactive measures and actively work with relevant regulatory bodies to pursue cases and put a stop to the threat of bogus and tainted supplements.

"NADA is also required to design a policy and devise a process to certify shops/establishments throughout the country as safe sources from which athletes may acquire supplements without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous elements," the ruling of the appeals court stated.

Shivpal's sample was taken in 2021 after he had left for the Olympics in Tokyo.

With a throw of 86.23 metres, Shivpal achieved his personal best and took home a silver medal in the Asian Championships in Doha in 2019. He placed 27th overall at the Tokyo Olympics despite throwing only 76.40 metres, which was below average.

According to the ruling dated Tuesday, Shivpal's coach gave him the supplement after buying it from "Herbal Power Pharmacy."

The decision said, "The supplement store was subsequently discovered to be engaged in the sale of contaminated supplements, and a FIR dated June 10, 2021 has been issued against the said retailer for being engaged in the sale of contaminated supplements."

Additionally, it was noted that the supplement included "methandienone," a forbidden chemical, but that it "was not mentioned on the product label and not identified by a basic internet search."

This incident demonstrates once again how fake pills are being peddled in India, and how professional sportsmen are paying the price. Shivpal's attorney, Vidushpat Singhania, stated that the NADA panel had noted that NADA needed to take further action to combat the selling of fake supplements.

However, the appeals panel stated that due to "rampant contamination," Shivpal should have exercised "particular caution" when consuming dietary supplements.