India's star sprinter, Hima Das, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) due to three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, according to insider sources. The 23-year-old Assam runner, who had already been sidelined from the Hangzhou Asian Games team because of an earlier injury, could face a ban ranging from one to two years based on the severity of the fault.
What Are Whereabouts Failures?
According to World Athletics Anti-Doping (WADA) rules, a combination of three whereabouts failures—which can include either filing failures or missed tests—within a year constitutes an anti-doping violation. Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are required to provide detailed information about their locations for testing, and failure to comply results in a whereabouts failure.
Not Hima's first setback
Das, who had been struggling with a lower back issue for some years, also suffered a hamstring injury earlier this year, according to Indian Athletics Chief Coach Radhakrishnan Nair. Due to her medical conditions, she missed key events like the Federation Cup in Ranchi and the National Inter-State Championship.
Previous cases of whereabouts failures
The news follows other recent whereabouts failures in Indian athletics. Last month, race walker Bhawna Jat was provisionally suspended by NADA after pulling out of the World Athletics Championships in Hungary due to three whereabouts failures. Additionally, Tokyo Olympian and 2021 Asian Championships bronze medallist wrestler Seema Bisla received a one-year ban for whereabouts failure. Vinesh Phogat, an Asian Championships gold winner and multiple World Championships medallist, was also issued a notice by NADA for a first-time whereabouts failure in July.
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(With PTI inputs, powered by AI)
