In May 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the shooter Pankaj Mukheja after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Propranolol. Following notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI).
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that he had used prescribed medication for his condition.
The Athlete asserted that he was unaware that his medication was prohibited whereas he had mentioned this on the Doping Control Form. Yet, his application for a TUE was rejected by the TUE Committee in May 2023.
The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.
The Panel accepts that the violation was not intentional and deems that the Athlete had acted negligently with his improper medication he used since December 2022. Moreover the Panel determines that he had already available proper medication without banned substances, prescribed in March 2023 by his doctor.
Therefore the Panel decides on 25 October 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision.
