Indian para-athlete Anmol Vasistha banned for three years after positive doping test, sidelined until 2029

India’s Anmol Vasistha was handed a three-year ban by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid during the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi in March this year.According to the IPC statement, Vasistha returned an adverse analytical finding for the metabolite dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone (DHCMT) in a urine sample collected during the March 11 men’s javelin F55 competition.DHCMT is an anabolic androgenic steroid listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2026 Prohibited List.Vasistha was temporarily suspended on April 24 while his case was investigated. He later accepted an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) and the consequences proposed by the IPC.His three-year ineligibility period will run from April 24, 2026 to April 23, 2029. During this period, he will not be able to compete or participate in any other sporting activities, except for authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs.The IPC also disqualified Vasistha’s results in the men’s javelin F55 at the New Delhi Grand Prix along with all his other results in the competition. They will lose all medals, points and prizes earned at the event.“The results achieved by an athlete in the Men’s F55 javelin event at the New Delhi 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix are automatically disqualified with all the consequences that follow, including the loss of any medals, points and prizes.“All other results achieved by the athlete in the New Delhi 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix are also disqualified with all consequential consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes,” the IPC said, as quoted by news agency PTI.The IPC reiterated that athletes are responsible for any banned substances found in their samples, regardless of whether the substance was used intentionally or unintentionally, or whether it was negligent or culpable.As a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, the IPC has stated that it remains committed to maintaining a doping-free sporting environment for athletes.