Athletics: Coach receives Four-Year Ban and Rs. 50,000 penalty after Athlete tests positive for doping

A Mumbai-based Athletics coach Mickey Menezes came under scrutiny following his trainee Kirti Bhoite’s failure in a doping test at the Khelo India Youth Games held in Guwahati in 2020. Bhoite is a sprinter who participated in the girls’ 100m and 200m in Guwahati. She was banned for four years after testing positive for a prohibited anabolic steroid.

Kirti was initially given a four-year suspension by the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADDP) for her violation. However, the sentence was reduced to two when she appealed against her coach stating that it wasn’t intentional and she consumed it as the coach had suggested to take it. The athlete claimed that her family had no sporting background, that she relied totally on her coach for training, and that she used supplements recommended by Menezes. She registered the complaint with the Maharashtra Athletics Association (MAA), which carried out the investigation.

What the Coach Said in his Statement

However, on the hearing day, the coach failed to show up before the NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP). A NADA law officer, Yasir Arafat attended the hearing as the coach did not appear before the hearing panel. But, Menezes gave a written statement in which the officer said on the coach’s behalf. “He (coach) has recommended supplements to the parents of the trainees and purchased those supplements for athletes on a payment basis. He (coach) has purchased supplements such as proteins, amino acids, energy drinks, and pre-workouts,” he said, according to a report by the New Indian Express.

The coach said that the supplier had informed him about the new product, which “is beneficial for sprint athletes and is also completely dope free”. According to the order, “he was under bona fide belief that the product was dope free”. “He also said he was in shock when he learned about Kirti’s positive test. He was only intending to give her supplements which are dope free and only to enhance her strength through these supplements. It was the fault of the supplier and he had no intention to give a supplement which was not dope-free to Kirti or to any other athlete,” he added.

His behavior was deemed to be an anti-rule breach by the ADDP, which consisted of Dr. Bikas Medhi, Charu Pragya, and Kalyan Chaubey. As a former athlete, the coach must know any violations in the anti-doping regulation, according to the order by ADDP.

Read more: Indian Athletes who have been caught for doping in 2022