By Tim Parsons-
British wrestler Chinu Sandhu has been banned for four years after failing an out-of-competition drugs test.
29-year-old Sandhu won a Bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth games. when he competed in the 125kg men’s freestyle. He tested positive for an anabolic steroid in September 2016 Uk Anti-Doping chief executive, Nicole Sapstead, said ”his reputation of the sport had been tainted because of his own actions”.
A BBC State of Sports investigation into doping in the amateur sport led to UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) saying drug use at every level of the sport is “fast becoming a crisis”.
In his defence, Sandhu argued he had not acted intentionally and that the positive sample had resulted from taking a contaminated supplement. However, UKAD employs a ‘strict liability’ policy, holding athletes responsible for banned substances in their system, no matter how it got there.
“Athletes are solely responsible for any substance which is found in their system, regardless of whether there is an intention to cheat or not,” Sapstead added.
“No-one can ever guarantee that a supplement is free from prohibited substances and taking them will always carry an element of risk.”
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Sandhu’s ban has been backdated to start from 14 October 2016, thereby extending his ban until October 2020.
“It is extremely disappointing news – for the athlete and the sport,” British Wrestling Association chief executive Colin Nicholson told the eye of media.com
“The sport is working with Ukad to make sure that athletes are educated in anti-doping.
“The British Wrestling Association has a zero tolerance approach to doping in sport, and believes in wrestling clean.”
Nicholson said most wrestlers train hard and live well without a general tendency to cheat, adding that ”a lot of lessons will be learnt from this
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar