In a significant, albeit temporary, relief for Indian volleyball player Sahil Kumar, the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) has provisionally lifted his suspension. The panel concluded that his doping violation most likely stemmed from the consumption of a contaminated product.
Following this interim order from the ADDP, issued on October 1, Sahil Kumar is now cleared to compete for the Hyderabad Black Hawks in their upcoming Prime Volleyball League Season 4 match against the Calicut Heroes, scheduled for Thursday.
Kumar’s out-of-competition sample, collected on May 14 in Bengaluru, revealed metabolites of GW1516 (also known as Cardarine), metabolic modulators, and Oxandrolone (a synthetic anabolic steroid) along with its metabolites. These substances are all on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list as non-specified substances.
He was initially handed a provisional suspension on June 12 and subsequently requested an expedited provisional hearing on the matter.
During the hearing, Sahil Kumar, represented by his counsel advocate Parth Goswami, urgently sought relief to enable his participation in the ongoing Prime Volleyball League.
Crucially, Kumar had his food supplements independently tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), a facility accredited by WADA.
The ADDP’s interim order stated, “Based on the evidence provided and after hearing both parties, the Panel is persuaded that the Athlete has successfully demonstrated that the violation in question likely stemmed from the consumption of a contaminated product, which is evident from the WADA accredited lab which identified traces of prohibited substances in both sealed and unsealed containers from the same batch and lot number of the supplements.”
The order further added, “Furthermore, the packaging of the supplement does not disclose any information regarding the presence of prohibited substances. Consequently, the Panel has determined it appropriate to lift the provisional suspension till the next hearing date and allow the Athlete to participate in the upcoming competition, subject to the condition that the medal and laurels earned by the Athlete till this time would be subject to the outcome of the case.”
The case is slated for a further hearing on November 1, approximately one month from the interim decision.
Advocate Goswami informed PTI, “We got his food supplements tested at the NDTL, which confirmed the banned substances in his sample came from the supplement, despite the label not mentioning them.”
He concluded, “We sought an urgent hearing before the NADA panel, which lifted his provisional suspension, allowing him to play for Hyderabad Black Hawks in the Prime Volleyball League.”