CAS 2021/A/8458 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) v. Indian National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) & Rani Rana
On 5 October 2021 the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI) decided to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the wrestler Rani Rana after she tested positive for the prohibited substance Drostanolone.
Hereafter in November 2021 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the ADDPI Decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). WADA requested the Panel to set aside the Appealed Decision and to impose a sanction of 4 years on the Athlete.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. She requested for a reduced sanction and asserted that she acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence.
She explained with medical evidence that she underwent treatment for her knee injury and that she had received a prescribed Drostoprime injection. She argued that her doctor was a certified medical practitioner and she had informed him that she was an athlete.
WADA did not accept the Athlete's explanation that the prohibited substance entered her system by injection with Drostoprime in December 2019. Moreover there are inconsistencies in the Athlete's explanation, nor was there a legitimate medical reason to treat a knee injury with a Drostoprime injection.
The Sole Arbitrator assessed and addressed the Parties' evidence and arguments and determines that:
- The Athlete failed to demonstrate with sufficient corroborating evidence on how the prohibited substance had entered her system.
- Her trust in the doctor and his medical treatment was unfounded.
- She failed to establish that she acted unintentionally, nor with No Significant Fault or Negligence.
Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 31 March 2023 that:
1.) The appeal filed by WADA on 16 November 2021 against the decision of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of the Indian National Anti-Doping Agency of 5 October 2021 is upheld.
2.) The decision rendered on 5 October 2021 by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of the NADA is set aside.
3.) Rani Rana is sanctioned with the period of ineligibility of four years starting from 28 December 2019.
4.) The results achieved by Rani Rana from 28 December 2019 are disqualified with all respective consequences, including forfeiture of medals, points, and prize money.
5.) (…).
6.) (…).
7.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
