A few months after the Tokyo Olympics final Kamalpreet Kaur Failing a dope test, another prominent female discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon has been caught in a dope problem.
Navjeet is the fifth best discus thrower in Asia this year and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, failed an out-of-competition dope test conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in Almaty, Kazakhstan on June 24 this year. She tested positive for a metabolite of the anabolic steroid dehydrochloromethyltestosterone, a non-specified substance banned by WADA at all times.
On 11 August, the AIU informed Navjeet – the 2014 Under-20 Worlds bronze medalist – about the adverse analytical finding and also temporarily suspended him. Navjeet was informed of his rights and given the option of admitting violations of the anti-doping rule by August 18 and potentially benefiting from a one-year reduction in the ineligibility period. And when it didn’t hear from the athlete, the AIU gave him one last chance and extended the deadline to August 24.
On 23 August, Navjeet wrote to the AIU that he had used a supplement, unknown to him, that contained a banned substance. He also returned an acknowledgment of violation of the anti-doping rules and an acceptance of the result form signed to confirm that he admitted to the violations.
Team India’s Navjit Kaur Dhillon competes during the women’s discus throw final on Day 5 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, England on August 02, 2022. , photo credit: Getty Images
Early admitting to an anti-doping rule violation, the AIU reduced Navjit’s four-year suspension from one year to three years, starting August 11, 2022 (the date of the provisional suspension).
Simultaneously, with effect from June 24, 2022, Navjeet’s results are disqualified and all titles, awards, medals and appearance money will be forfeited.
Navjeet had won all three meetings he attended in India this year, including the inter-state nationals in Chennai in June. She also won the title at the Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty on June 25, a day before the test. The athlete, who has a personal best of 59.18m, was eighth at the recently held Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a score of 53.51.