Tennis player comes under NADA hammer

Mumbai-based teenager is under provisional suspension after consuming cough syrup and a tablet which contained WADA banned substance

National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has handed an upcoming tennis player Aryaan Bhatia a provisional suspension after he failed in dope test.

Mumbai-based Bhatia’s urine sample was taken during the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship held here in October last year. Incidentally, NADA had collected samples for the first time from tennis players during the championship, and he the first tennis player to come under the NADA hammer.

“We respect NADA’s verdict, but he took cough syrup and a few tablets for cold and cough, and we were not aware that one of the tablet did contain 1.5% of banned substance,” said his father Ajay Bhatia while talking to Free Press Journal, on Friday.

Aryaan took Alex syrup and tablet Wysolone, which contained Prednisole — one of the banned substance.

“We are going for hearing and are hopeful my son will come clear,” added Ajay while saying that Aryaan has locked himself in his room, as he wants to stay away from everyone.

“This is something which is very sad, the boy is innocent and I am sure he will come clean after some time,” said the former Davis Cup coach Nandan Bal.

“He has been honest and did tell the NADA officials when they took his sample, that he did take medicine for cold and cough, and unfortunately for this budding player, one of the component of this medicine contained 1.5% of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) banned drug claimed the fame,” added Bal.

“He is a well-disciplined boy and he is not a lad who would take such a step,” said Ram Rao of the PracTennis from where Bhatia started playing tennis.

“I can vouch anything, he is not a player who would make such a move,” added Rao.

Meanwhile, the national doping watchdog also provisionally suspended seven other sportspersons last month for flunking dope tests. They are Sandeep Kaur (powerlifting), Ankit Gosai (handball), Jithu Thomas (volleyball), Yaiphaba (canoeing), Vishan Singh (kayaking and canoeing) and Shivam Kasana (cycling).

The NADA also said that it has conducted 675 dope tests, including 57 blood samples in January 2019. and has unwanted