MP all-rounder Anshula Rao becomes the first female cricketer in India to fail a dope test

NADA (National anti-doping agency) has been quite active since last few years. As the cases of failing the dope test have increased worldwide and with the technology and medical facilities getting better every day, it is very important for the agency to be on their toes. Last year, opener Prithvi Shaw was banned for failing the dope test. The young batsman was banned for 8 months and missed out important series before coming back to the Indian squad.

NADA has now suspended a provisional woman cricketer Anshula Rao for failing the dope test. The cricketer prevails from Madhya Pradesh and has represented her state in Under-23 T20 Trophy, as per the information available on the board’s website. She is a right-hand medium pace bowler and a right-handed batter. She became the first woman cricketer from India to fail a dope test.

The all-rounder was tested out of competition in March this year. NADA sent the urine sample of the cricketer to a testing lab outside the country as the National Dope Testing Laboratory has been suspended by the World anti-doping agency.

The examination of the sample has ascertained the existence of anabolic steroid ‘19-Norandrosterone’, a metabolite of commonly-used drug nandrolone. Norandrosrterone is one of the four most used drugs used by athletes. It is known for improving the performance as it increases muscle mass and endurance as well as to speed up recovery. The other three most used drugs are testosterone, stanozolol, and methandienone.

The woman cricketer now faces a suspension for up to 4 years

Earlier this year, after the New Zealand tour, the NADA had let off KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja after giving warnings for not revealing their whereabouts. Women cricketers, Deepti Sharma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana were also given warnings for the same. It is an essential activity to ensure NADA can conduct a surprise dope test.

The woman cricketer now faces a suspension for up to 4 years. The duration of her ban will be decided by NADA’s anti-disciplinary Panel. Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Pradeep Sangwan, and Shane Warne are a few famous cricketers who have been banned previously for failing the dope test.