Paul not guilty of doping, but given warning

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

A National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel today found footballer Subrata Paul not guilty of using the banned substance Terbutaline. The celebrated goalkeeper, however, has been reprimanded by the panel for not exercising due caution while consuming the cough syrup which consisted the banned substance. The panel has imposed “no period of ineligibility” upon him, which means his provisional suspension stands revoked with “immediate effect” and he is eligible to return to the field.

According to the verdict, Paul’s case involved the use of a “specified substance” and the 30-year-old from West Bengal was “satisfactorily” able to establish during the two hearings that the dope violation wasn’t intentional and he was at “no significant fault”.

Let off

“Under article 10.5.1.1 of the NADA code, wherein a provision for no significant fault or negligence is available, Paul was let off with a warning,” read the verdict. 

Paul had been tested out-of-competition by a NADA team on March 18 during the Indian team’s camp in Mumbai. He was subsequently handed a provisional suspension from May 24. His urine sample had traces of Terbutaline Beta-2 Agonist, which is a bronchodilator, ie a drug “that causes widening of the bronchi, and is useful in the alleviation of asthma”. However, athletes must apply for a TUE (therapeutic use exemption) certificate before using it, which Paul hadn’t.

Team doctor at fault

The panel had indicted the team doctor (Sreejith Kamal) for his “negligent” behaviour and has directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take “necessary action” against him. The doctor, during his appearance before the panel, had admitted in writing that he failed to take due care in prescribing the medicine to Paul.

“The panel has warned the AIFF for negligence as it has failed to provide guidelines to be followed by the team doctor appointed by them,” a NADA statement said.

Paul had submitted the doctor’s prescription before the panel, containing the name of the cough syrup.

“We will wait to examine what action the AIFF has taken against the team doctor. He should be immediately removed from his position,” NADA Director General Navin Agarwal told The Tribune. “If AIFF fails to sanction him, then the panel would decide the quantum of punishment.”

Quick verdict

The panel’s closure of Paul’s case in record time deserves a special mention. The panel took less than three months to deliver its verdict. “Paul had requested for an expedited hearing after he was served with the notice of charge. Accordingly, the hearings were held in an expedited manner,” Agarwal said.

Doc with juniors

The team doctor is currently with the India U-21 team, which will travel to Singapore on Thursday night for two international friendlies. When AIFF general secretary Kushal Das was reached for his reaction, he said: “AIFF’s disciplinary committee would take a call on the team doctor’s future after going through the panel’s verdict.”