In August 2022 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the powerlifting Parathlete Bhavana Sharma after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Drostanolone.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI).
The Parathlete accepted the test result and explained with medical documents that she underwent treatment for her medical conditions. She assumed that these prescribed medication were the source of the positive test.
The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Parathlete's sample and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation.
The Panel determines that the Parathlete's prescribed medciation was not the source of the positive test. Further the Panel considers that the Parathlete failed to mention her medication on the Doping Control Form, nor made an application for a TUE, nor demonstrated how the substance had entered her system.
Therefore the Panel decides on 21 March 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 3 August 2022.
