The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has provisionally suspended several prominent Indian athletes, including women's national football team midfielder Ratanbala Devi Nongmaithem, for violations of anti-doping rules. The suspensions were part of an updated list published by NADA on January 1, 2026.
Football Star and Cricketer Face Provisional Suspension
Ratanbala Devi, the 26-year-old footballer from Manipur, tested positive for the prohibited substance metandienone. This anabolic androgenic steroid, also known by the brand name Dianabol, is banned at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is commonly used to increase muscle mass, strength, and endurance. Ratanbala, who plays for the Indian Women's League club Sribhumi, has earned 48 international caps for India and scored 13 goals for the national team.
In a separate case, Uttarakhand cricketer Rajan Kumar, aged 29, was also provisionally suspended. His 'A' urine sample revealed a cocktail of anabolic steroids: drostanolone, metenolone, and clomifene. Clomifene is often used as a medication to treat infertility in women but can also restore testosterone levels in men. Kumar last played for Uttarakhand in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group D match against Delhi in Ahmedabad on December 8, 2025.
Eight-Year Ban for Repeat Offender
The list also confirmed a severe punishment for Tamil Nadu sprinter Dhanalakshmi Sekar. She has been handed an eight-year ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone in September 2025. This marked her second dope offence, leading to the lengthy suspension effective from September 9, 2025.
Wider List of Anti-Doping Violations
The NADA list featured other athletes from various disciplines who have been suspended for doping violations. These include:
- Gaurav Patel (Athletics) for 19-norandrosterone.
- Khushboo Kumari (Weightlifting) for ligandrol.
- Achalveer Karwasra (Boxing) for metandienone.
- Siddhant Sharma (Polo) for cocaine.
Ratanbala's case adds her name to a list of notable Indian footballers previously banned by NADA. Others include M Viknesh (terbutaline), Ashutosh Mehta (morphine), former India goalkeeper Subrata Paul (terbutaline), Nishant Mehra (tetrahydrocannabinol), Dane Pereira (nandrolone), and Arun Malhotra (a banned steroid).
The provisional suspensions prevent the athletes from participating in any sports competition or activity until the conclusion of their respective disciplinary proceedings. These cases highlight the ongoing challenges and vigilance required in maintaining clean sport in India across football, cricket, athletics, and other fields.
