NADA bans Footballer Nishant Mehra for two years

India's National Anti-Doping Agency has banned Mumbai FC midfielder Nishant Mehra for two years after having failed a doping test in February 2011. Nishant was found guilty for having used tetrahydrocannabinol (TCH), a WADA in-competition prohibited substance.

In the I-League dope testing had only been started in January 2011 with Nishant Mehra testing positive in one of the random tests on February 4, 2011 in the first test with the AIFF imposing a provisional suspension on the player from February 10, 2011 as per guidelines from world football governing body FIFA.

The midfielder was again found positive in the second test held on February 11, 2011 with the NADA Disciplinary Panel suspending the player for two years with effect from February 10, 2011.

This means that Nishant's suspension would end on February 9, 2013 until then he is banned from all football activities around the world.

FPAI Workshop on Anti Doping & Tax Consulting

The Football Players Association of India earlier today organised a workshop on Anti Doping and Tax Consulting at the Parsee Club on the Kolkata Maidan. I had the honour of hosting the proceedings of the day which was opened by the FPAI president Baichung Bhutia on paying importance to such issues as Doping and Tax payment.

The first presentation was from Dr. Nisith Ranjan Chowdhury on Doping Laws, player responsibilities and banned substances. It is a very difficult subject which players are not really aware of and the case of Nishant Mehra from Mumbai FC shows how easily a player can test positive without the proper background knowledge.

It was followed by a session with G. Agarwal from Ernst&Young about the issue of taxation and what players need to keep in mind not to get in conflict with the Income Tax department.

Thereafter special guest in former French international and Player of Indian Origin Vikash Dhorasoo, who happened to be in Kolkata today. Vikash spoke to the players about the issue of Doping but everyone was more interested to hear about his career, the way he trained at different club and special experiences over the years.

The workshop ended like it started with the media wanting photos & bytes of both the local star Baichung Bhutia and the foreign visitor in Vikash Dhorasoo. Its something one should have experienced as Vikash joked afterwards...

Indian football has its first dope case

Dope testing in the I-League has only been started in January 2011 with only nine of the 14 participating teams having been tested so far and a few weeks on we have the first confirmed official doping case in Indian football in Mumbai FC midfielder Nishant Mehra.

An AIFF release said:
Nishant Mehra tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, a WADA in-competition prohibited substance, Mehra's 'B' sample, which was tested on Thursday in his presence at the National Anti-Doping Agency headquarters in New Delhi, has tested positive for the same banned substance and he will have to appear before the NADA Anti-Doping panel at a date to be decided by NADA.

Mehra has been provisionally suspended by the All India Football Federation and if things take its usual way in such a positive doping case, then Nishant Mehra could be banned for two years from playing competitive football.

The substance Tetrahydrocannabinol found in his blood is a synthetic drug found in cannabis and often used in parties, but it is not a performance enhancing drug. Still it is on the global anti doping list and could end the career of Nishant.