The Hindu : Sport : Order reserved in Saroj Sihag case

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Order reserved in Saroj Sihag case

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The National Anti-Doping Disciplinary panel on Friday reserved its order in the Saroj Sihag doping case, leaving the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) athlete in suspense about her fate.

Sihag, former National champion in discus and shot put, who is facing a steroid charge for a ‘positive' returned in April last year, had recently completed her diploma course in coaching at the NIS, Patiala.

The 28-year-old athlete had argued initially that her sample collection procedure was faulty, raising doubts about the integrity of her urine sample, but later stuck to her argument that she was not provided an opportunity to be present at her ‘B' sample test.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) rebutted her argument that she had come to New Delhi on April 6 last year, as claimed in her written submission, and contended that it was within its rights to go ahead with the ‘B' sample test when she failed to turn up subsequently.

Sihag admitted that the mention of her visit on April 6 was a mistake committed by her lawyer in the written submission and that she had only spoken to a NADA official on phone.

However, she forcefully argued that her right to be present at the opening of the ‘B' sample could not be taken away by simply having an independent witness observe the procedure. Sihag claimed she at least had the right to know when the test was being conducted.

NADA disputed, rather unconvincingly, before the Dinesh Dayal-headed hearing panel, that the responsibility to pursue a fresh date for the ‘B' sample procedure was that of the athlete, after she requested her test to be delayed at least up to April 6.

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