Indian para-athlete Anmol Vasistha handed three-year doping ban by IPC

Representative Image: The International Paralympic Committee imposed a three-year ban on Anmol Vasistha for anti-doping rule violation. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Indian para-athlete Anmol Vasistha has been handed a three-year suspension by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid during the New Delhi World Para Athletics Grand Prix in March.

The IPC confirmed that Vasistha’s urine sample, collected during the men’s javelin throw F55 competition on March 11, contained a metabolite of dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone (DHCMT), a substance prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2026 list.

DHCMT belongs to the category of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Vasistha was provisionally suspended on April 24 while his case was being resolved. He subsequently admitted to the anti-doping rule violation and accepted the sanctions proposed by the IPC.

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His period of ineligibility extends from April 24, 2026, to April 23, 2029, during which he cannot participate in competitions or other sporting activities, except authorised anti-doping education and rehabilitation programmes.

The IPC also annulled Vasistha’s results from the men’s javelin throw F55 event at the New Delhi Grand Prix, along with any other results he recorded during the competition. The disqualification carries the forfeiture of any medals, ranking points and prizes earned.

The governing body reiterated that athletes are responsible for prohibited substances detected in their samples, regardless of whether the substances were consumed intentionally or unintentionally.

It added that, as a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, it remained committed to protecting clean competition and maintaining a doping-free sporting environment.