World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) v. Indian National Antidoping Agency (NADA) & Mhaskar Meghali
Panel: Mr Mark Hovell (United Kingdom), Sole Arbitrator
Citation :CAS 2016/A/4626
Facts:
On January 14, 2015, the blood sample of Mhaskar Meghali was analysed by the WADA-accredited National Anti-Doping Laboratory of New Delhi which revealed the presence of a substance prohibited under the rules of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Athlete during the proceedings before the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) said that she didn’t dope and those were medications prescribed to her while she had a knee injury. The ADDP believed that the doping was done unintentionally and that Meghali did not bear significant fault or negligence. Therefore, a year ban was imposed on her. WADA challenged this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Issue:
Can the sanction be reduced if the athlete cannot explain how the prohibited substance entered her system?
Judgement:
The CAS upheld the appeal filed by WADA and set aside the decision of NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel. They confirmed that Mhaskar Meghali has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as the athlete was just guessing how the substance must have entered her body and she couldn’t establishthat she bears no significant fault or negligence.
