Davinder Singh Kang gave an explanation, his last year’s results tested positive for beta dexamethasone

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Asian Games Bronze medallist, Davinder Singh Kang gave an explanation as his last year’s results tested positive for beta dexamethasone.

On Sunday, the Asian Games Bronze medal-winning Javelin thrower, said it’s because of a declared medication that he took for sore throat, as he failed results and also je is way too confident of being cleared in the disciplinary hearing and of having been caught in a dope scandal.

Beta dexamethasone, a substance which is banned under the World Anti-Doping Code. Last year in August, Kang’s sample were collected which returned postive for beta dexamethasone.

Beta Dexamethasone, is a known component of medication for throat and lung aliments and allergies also a substance banned under World Anti-doping Code and can be used out of competition with a doctor’s recommendation.

According to PTI Kang was quoted as saying, “I had severe sore throat and before Indian GP 5 last year, I consulted a private physician in Patiala after taking permission from team management. The doctor gave me two medicines – Moxitas 500 and beta dexamethasone. The dope test result is because of this medicine.”

“I also declared these two medicines in the dope sample collection from when people from NADA took the samples. I have not gained any advantage in my performance from these medicines. So, there is no fault on my part. I will explain this to NADA and I hope I should be cleared of this doping charge,” the 31-year-old added.

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Last year, during the Indian Grand prix held in Patiala on August 16, Kang’s urine sample was collected. In that game, he had finished seconds in the event with a best throw of 76.28m.

Navin Agrwal, National Anti-Doping Agency Director General said in a tweet, “One athlete tested during Grand prix at Patiala has been found dope positive with glucocorticosteroids as per late reports received from Doha Lab.”

After the suspension of National Dope Testing Laboratory by the WADA last year, the dope samples of Indian athletes are currently being tested in the Doha Laboratory.

In year 2018, Kang was let off with a reprimand after traces of Marijuana- a specified substance which was found in his urine, it will be his second time that he will be considered in a dope offence and can face a maximum ban of eight years if he fails to convince the NADA disciplinary panel that he was not at fault.

Agarwal, on Kang’s failed dope test said, “I will not like to comment on an individual case. But as per procedure when it is a second offence, the sanction is for eight years. But I am not aware about the specifics in the case if this athlete.”

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Kang also said that he has not opted for a provisional suspension as dexamethasone is a synthetic form of glucocorticoid or glucocorticosteroid which is a specified substance for which provisional suspension is optional and not mandatory. As under the WADA code, there is no provision for life ban in case of a second offence.

As the drug is widely used to treat asthma and lung ailments, skin diseases and allergies. It is a steroid hormone, which is like stimulant but different from steroids and can be used by the athletes only out of competition.

A well known lawyer on doping cases, Parth Goswami, told PTI, “if dexamethasone is detected in the off season or prior to competition, it’s use will not be an offence. So, athlete is giving a choice of optional provisional suspension.”

“Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was also alleged to have used dexamethasone before the 2017 UEFA Champions League against Liverpool. Badminton legend Lee chong Wei of Malaysia was handed an eight-month ban for the use of this drug. So it will depend on the degree of fault or negligence of the athlete,” he added.

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Considering an incident to be an “administrative mistake” Ramos was let off by Europe’s football governing body Uefa, as the Real Madrid team doctor did not disclose a pre-match injection, which he should have done to avoid doping offence.

As the government has only allowed outdoor training for elite athletes, those who have already qualified for Tokyo Olympics or are likely to achieve the mark, Kang, who had reached the finals in the 2017, World Championships, is currently not training.

Kang said, on the advice of the Indian team management he had seen a physician in Germany as he faced sore throat problem duringthe training stint in Poland last year.

“I reported this allergic kind of ailment to my Javelin coach (Uwe Hohn) and recovery expert and they arranged for a consultation with a private physician in Germany who gave me some medicines. The ailment affected the whole body and the medicines gave some relief only.

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The pain remained but reduced and then I consulted a private physician in Patiala after returning to India in August. Now I will consult my lawyer and present my case. There should not be any problem,” he said.

After he tested positive for anabolic steroids, in 2017 Kang was handed provisional suspension after his urine samples returned positive.
But later, after the National Dope Testing Laboratory withdrew the adverse analytical findings, he was cleared of doping charges by both the international body Athletics Integrity Unit and WADA.