Chikte to appeal against dope ban

The Yavatmal-born custodian has been handed a two-year doping ban by NADA, ADDP

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Oct 19

A SHATTERED, out-of-favour Indian hockey goalkeeper Akash Chikte, who has been handed a two-year doping ban by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) for “unknowingly” taking prohibited substance earlier this year, has decided to fight against the decision.
Chikte was provisionally suspended by NADA from March 27 and the minimum sanction of two years was imposed by the ADDP after a final hearing on October 8.
However, the Pune-based custodian has decided to fight against the duration of the ban and has also roped in a Delhi lawyer to fight his case. Chikte has 21 days to appeal against the suspension.
Chikte tested positive for banned anabolic steroid (Norandrosterone) during an out-of-competition test during the senior team’s hockey camp in Bengaluru on February 27.
“I am really shattered. I never took any prohibited substance in my life. The medicine which I took after consulting doctor had prohibited substance which I never knew,” Chikte told ‘The Hitavada’ from Pune.
Recalling those days when he was mentally tired due to his father’s ill health, Chikte said his intention was never to take any performance enhancing drugs and he will never do so in his life.
Chikte’s father Anil, a welder by profession, was suffering from a brain decease called aneurysm which could lead to vasospasm (sudden constriction of a blood vessel, reducing its diameter and flow rate) and multiple infarct. He needed immediate surgery. Chikte, hailing from Lohara village in Yavatmal, was on duty at BEG Pune when he received the news of his father’s ailment. He immediately rushed to Nagpur to get his father treated.
“During that course of time I was mentally tired and I couldn’t think of anything else than my father’s health. During that time I had injured my left foot. There was unbearable pain and I took the medicine prescribed by the doctor. I never knew it had a banned substance,” said Chikte who has won gold medal for India in 2016 Asia Cup.
Chikte said he has decided to contest the decision of two-year ban, which, he hoped, could be reduced to one year.
“I will be challenging the one-year ban. I have roped in a Delhi-based lawyer who will fight my case against NADA. Looking my clean background and my future I hope the ban would be reduced to one year,” said Chikte, the 2016 Asian Men’s Champions Trophy gold medal winner.
“This was an important year for me as I missed all the major tournaments — Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy and the forthcoming World Cup. I am shattered but I can’t do anything now. I am now working hard for 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said the lanky goalkeeper.
Chikte might get a leeway as NADA’s order mentioned that his case of dope violation was “unintentional” as he had taken medicine for an injury on his left foot.
Chikte admitted that he failed to inform the NADA officials about taking the medicine. “I was shuttling between Pune, Nagpur and Yavatmal due to my father’s illness. Hence it (mentioning NADA about my medication) skipped my mind,” Chikte claimed.
While it was proved that Chikte neither sought Therapeutic Use Exemption Certificate (TUE Certificate) nor did he mention about the injection taken on the Doping Control Form, he was able to establish that he had no knowledge of the injection prescribed by the physician, whom he consulted in Pune.
Thus, he was able to avoid the maximum sanction of four years although NADA still has provision to appeal against this decision.
According to the NADA order, Chikte’s urine sample report had Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for 19-Norandrosterone (19 NA, metabolite of Nandrolone or its Precursor) at a concentration level greater than 15 ng/ml, Androgenic Anabolic Steroid, which is non-specified substance as per NADA/WADA prohibited list. Once Chikte’s ‘B’ sample also showed similar AAF finding, a hearing was conducted on August 13. The player appeared before the panel and he said he had consumed medicines prescribed by his doctor for treatment of his index finger on his left foot. 
(with inputs from PTI)