In a significant blow to Indian athletics, former Asian Games discus throw champion Seema Punia has been handed a 16-month suspension after failing a doping test. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) included her name in its latest list of offenders, marking a major setback for the veteran athlete.
The Ban and Its Details
The 42-year-old athlete's ban officially took effect on November 10. According to a PTI report, NADA has chosen not to publicly disclose the specific banned substance for which Punia tested positive. This suspension adds a dark chapter to her long and decorated career, which has been previously marred by similar controversies.
This is not Punia's first encounter with anti-doping rules. She has a troubled history with doping violations, including two earlier offences. One of these incidents dates back to her junior years, indicating a recurring issue throughout her sporting journey.
Other Athletes Penalised
Punia was not the only athlete facing action in NADA's latest update. The agency also imposed bans on several other sportspersons for doping violations. Distance runner Pooja Yadav received a four-year ban, while shot putter Manjeet Kumar was handed a severe six-year suspension. Middle-distance runner Nikesh Dhanraj Rathod also faces a four-year ban from competition.
Who is Seema Punia?
Born on 27 July 1983 in Khewda village in Haryana's Sonipat district, Seema Punia began her athletic life at the young age of 11. She initially trained as a hurdler and long jumper before finding her true calling in the discus throw circle.
Her breakthrough came with a gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, earning her the nickname "Millennium Child." She set her personal best throw of 64.84 m in Kyiv in 2004.
Punia's career highlights are notable. She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and finished 12th at the 2012 London Olympics. Her crowning achievement was a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. She is also a four-time Commonwealth Games medallist, with three silver medals to her name.
Her last major appearance was at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where she secured a bronze medal, demonstrating her longevity in the sport.
Punia's career has not been without controversy. Before the 2006 Asian Games, she tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. Although her national federation permitted her to compete, she made the independent decision to withdraw from the team, an act that drew significant media attention at the time.
On a personal note, she is married to her coach, Ankush Punia, a former discus thrower who represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She is also a recipient of the Bhim Award from the Haryana government, which she received on 26 June 2006.
This latest suspension casts a long shadow over the legacy of one of India's most experienced field athletes and raises serious questions about doping control in the country's sporting ecosystem.
