Bhamara, first Indian in NBA, banned for doping
Blurb: NADA orders 2-yr suspension as cager tests positive for Higenamine
New Delhi, December 24
Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian player to be drafted into an NBA team in 2015, has been handed a two-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing a dope test last year.
The 25-year-old cager had been slapped with a provisional suspension in November last year after he failed an out-of-competition test conducted in Bangalore by NADA during a preparatory camp for the South Asian Games.
Bhamara had disputed the charge and requested NADA for a hearing by its anti-doping disciplinary panel.
NADA today said Bhamara had tested positive for Higenamine, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list in 2017 and is classified as a beta-2 agonist, meaning it is prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition.
Bhamara’s suspension will end on November 19 next year, with the ban period starting retrospectively on the same day in 2019. PTI
