India's star athlete bears NADA's brunt, banned for two years over doping offence; hefty sanctions for seven others

Indian quarter-miler Summy Kaliraman has been handed a two-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for a doping offense committed in 2024. The 22-year-old was a promising talent, and a member of the Indian 4x400m mixed relay team that won a bronze medal at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

Two-year ban on Summy Kaliraman for doping offence

NADA's Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) sanctioned her after she tested positive for Clomifene, a prohibited substance. Her suspension officially began on October 14, 2024.

Kaliraman had a personal best time of 53.18 seconds and also won a silver medal at the 2024 Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar. At the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, her team, which included Barath Sridhar, Priya Mohan, and Kapil, secured the bronze medal with a time of 3 minutes and 20.60 seconds.

The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of NADA has also sanctioned several other athletes from various sports. Among those banned are long-distance runners Sreerag A S and Reshma Datta Kevate, who have been given five-year and four-year bans, respectively.

Summy Kaliraman, born in 2003, has emerged as a promising track and field athlete for India, specializing in the 200m and 400m sprint events. She has consistently demonstrated her talent through strong performances at both national and international competitions. A significant breakthrough in Kaliraman's career came at the World U20 Championships. Competing as a key member of the Indian 4x400m mixed relay team, she played an instrumental role in securing a bronze medal, marking a major achievement on the global stage.

The Indian quarter-miler has also posted impressive individual times. In May 2024, she recorded her personal best in the 400m, finishing with a time of 53.18 seconds at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. She has also shown remarkable speed in the 200m, clocking a time of 24.70 seconds in September 2024. Furthermore, Kaliraman has excelled in the 4x400m relay at the U20 level, contributing to a standout team time of 3:34.18.

In addition to the track and field athletes, the ADDP has issued bans to seven other notable athletes. Weightlifter Simarnjeet Kaur received a five-year ban, while boxer Rohit Chamoli was suspended for two years. Wrestler Arju and kabaddi player Mohit Nandal each received four-year bans. Finally, racer Anirudha Arvind was also sanctioned with a three-year ban for a doping offense.