Anshula Rao, a Madhya Pradesh all-rounder became the first Indian woman cricketer to face a ban for doping. She has been handed a four-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency for faking a dope test which dates back to July 2020.
Reports in the Times of India state that NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel came to a conclusion that Rao took 19-Norandrosterone which is a performance-enhancing drug “knowingly and intentionally”.
The U-23 cricketer has taken part in several BCCI organised domestic tournaments. She last took part in the 2019-20 U-23 event organised by the governing body.
Reports in the TOI further stated that the all-rounder tested positive for the steroid in March last year in Baroda. She subsequently didn’t manage to provide any proof or evidence that she didn’t take the substance intentionally.
As per reports in the ESPNcricinfo, Rao had sought financial support from her state board to challenge the initial test results. Now the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association will be providing her financial help during the ban.
Rao had challenged the result and claimed that she was asked to bear “exorbitant and unreasonable costs” of Euro 2400 for conducting B sample analysis. The Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) which is headed by Gaurang Kanth did criticise Rao and said that an individual athlete must ensure that they don’t take any prohibited substance. However, he also took a dig at NADA for not providing any financial assistance to the female cricketer for her B Sample analysis.
“The athlete failed to explain how the prohibited substance entered in her body and hence she failed to take the reasonable care as expected from an athlete,” the panel concluded.