In December 2022 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Mareena George after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Terbutaline. Following notification the Athlete filed a statement in her defence and the case was referred to the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI).
The Athtlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. She argued that she acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence and requested for a reduced sanction.
She explained that at the material time she suffered from fever and a respiratory infection and underwent treatment in a hospital. She used prescribed menthol cough syrup wheras she was unaware that it contained the substance Terbutaline.
The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel accepts that the violation was not intentional and that she demonstrated how the substance had entered her system.
Further the Panel considers that she acted with a degree of negligence because she failed to mention to her doctor that she is an Athlete, failed to mention her medication on the Doping Control Form and that her application for a TUE was rejected.
Therefore the Panel decides on 20 April 2023 to impose a 1 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of this decision.
