Star Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Suspended For 21-Months

Failing the Dope Test…

Famous gymnast Dipa Karmakar has been banned for 21-month for failing a dope test which was conducted by the International Testing Agency.

Claims were made by Indian officials that her "suspension" last year was not connected to doping offences.

Karmakar's dope sample collected out-of-competition by the ITA, which is an independent organization that manages the anti-doping programme of the International Gymnastics Federation, found to contain Higenamine, which is a prohibited substance under Anti-Doping Agency Code.

Her ban period will end on July 10, 2023 as it was counted from the day (October 11, 2011) the sample was collected.

"The ITA confirms that Dipa Karmakar has been suspended for a 21-month period, effective until 10 July 2023 after testing positive for higenamine (S3. Beta-2 Agonists as per the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list)," the ITA said in a statement late on Friday.

"The positive sample was collected on behalf of the FIG in the scope of an out-of-competition control on 11 October 2021," it added.

The Switzerland based non-profit organisation works under the supervision of WADA and International Olympic Committee to implement anti-doping programmes for various international federations.

The ITA further said Karmakar's dope issue was resolved under a case resolution agreement pursuant to article 10.8.2 of the FIG Anti-Doping Rules and equivalent provision in the WADA.

"The athlete's results have been disqualified from October 11, 2021 onwards."

Karmakar got famous after finishing fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the vault event.

She has been struggling with injuries ever since she underwent a surgery to treat an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2017.