Seema Punia, a former Asian Games gold medallist in discus throwing, received a 16-month sentence after failing a drug test. According to the National Anti-Doping Agency’s most recent list of drug offenders, Punia, 42, was suspended on November 10.
However, NADA could not identify the chemical for which she tested positive.
Her doping record has been patchy, with two prior infractions, one of which was at the junior level, and the most recent offense. Her most recent significant event was the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she took home a bronze. She has also won four medals at the Commonwealth Games, three of which were silver.
In 2014, she won her first and only gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon. She took home a bronze in the 2002 world championships at the junior level.
In addition, middle-distance runner Nikesh Dhanraj Rathod (four years), shot putter Manjeet Kumar (six years), and distance runner Pooja Yadav (four years) were all suspended for failing drug tests.
Kuldeep Singh, a marathon runner, and Chavi Yadav, a female steeplechaser, were also suspended for four years.
