Dope cheats who compete below the national level will be let off leniently for their offence, with a promise of quicker disposal of their cases according to the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA). The maximum punishment, this year onwards, for athletes below the national level will be a suspension of two years. “As per the new rules, which we have implemented from January 1 under the new WADA Code, there will be separate criteria for dope control of athletes below the national level. Agarwal said most of the positive cases in India are related to athletes who compete below the national level. The 2021 WADA Code gives a country’s National Anti-Doping Organisation the freedom to identify which athletes will be classified as national-level athletes.

Source: Indian Express February 08, 2021 15:45 UTC