NEW DELHI: It’s a double whammy for wrestler Satender Malik. Already serving a life ban for physically assaulting a referee, the 125kg Haryana wrestler has now been banned for four years by NADA‘s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) for failing to submit to sample collection for dope during the 70th Inter Services Wrestling Championships in October last year. Malik had won a gold medal in his weight category at the October 22-24, 2021 meet here.
TOI has learnt that Malik has been charged under ‘Clause 2.3’ of the anti-doping rule violation, which pertains to “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection without compelling justification after notification by a duly authorised person”. Malik’s suspension period kicked off from June 15, the day the three-member ADDP pronounced its verdict. The panel noted that “since the athlete was provisionally suspended as evident from the notice of charge dated 10.11.2021, the athlete be given credit of period of his provisional suspension which he has already undergone for calculating his total period of ineligibility of 4 years.”
According to sources, Malik has challenged his life ban in the Court. Even if the ban was overturned, now, Malik won’t be able to compete till November 2025 owing to his dope sanction.
As per the ADDP order, Malik, who had slapped referee Jagbir Singh during the CWG trials on May 17 here, didn’t report for his sample collection to the dope control officer (DCO) after his win at the Inter Services meet on October 22. As per the DCO’s supplementary report, it was alleged that “the athlete has run away from the venue without informing anyone”.
Malik later informed through his coach, NK Malkhan, that he was suffering from stomach pain and went to the Vinayak Hospital in Delhi for treatment.
However, upon investigation, it was revealed that Malik had never visited the hospital and, consequently, NADA issued him a notice of charge on November 10. He requested for a provisional hearing for lifting of his suspension, which was accepted by the panel till the final disposal of his case. This allowed Malik to participate in the CWG trials till the time the decision of the ADDP was pending.
After holding the final hearing on April 27, the ADDP came up with its verdict on June 15, stating: “The panel holds that since the athlete has intentionally evaded dope testing, he is liable for sanctions under article 10.3.1 for ineligibility for a period of 4 years.”
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