Asian Games Medallist Manju Bala Receives Five-Year Doping Ban

• Indian hammer thrower and 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Manju Bala has been handed a five-year suspension for violating anti-doping regulations, marking another high-profile case in India’s ongoing crackdown on performance-enhancing drug use. The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) issued the ruling after Bala tested positive for multiple banned substances , including anabolic steroids and Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS) .

Details of the Doping Violation

• According to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) , Manju Bala tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone and SARMS LGD-4033 during a routine test in 2024. The ADDP confirmed the violation, and her ban officially commenced on July 10, 2024 , following the final ruling on October 15, 2025 . The suspension effectively sidelines Bala from all national and international events, ending her hopes of competing in future global championships.

Other Athletes Sanctioned

• The ADDP also imposed penalties on several other Indian athletes for similar offences. Mohan Saini received a four-year ban, while bodybuilders Gopala Krishnan, Amit Kumar, and Rajvardhan Sanjay Waskar were each banned for six years. Shubham Mahara and Nitin Verma (canoeing) were suspended for four years, boxer Sumit for two years, and basketball player Shivendra Pandey for six years. Additionally, the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel upheld a four-year suspension for sprinter Himani Chandel , reinforcing India’s intensified anti-doping enforcement.

Exam Pointers

• Manju Bala’s ban: 5 years (effective from July 10, 2024)

• Banned substances: Dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone & SARMS LGD-4033

• Authority: National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), India

• Other bans: Mohan Saini (4 yrs), Himani Chandel (4 yrs), several bodybuilders (6 yrs)

Broader Implications

The sanctions highlight NADA’s zero-tolerance policy toward doping and its renewed focus on education, testing, and awareness programmes for athletes. Experts have called for greater monitoring and counselling to prevent inadvertent violations. The crackdown reinforces India’s commitment to fair play, ethical sportsmanship, and international anti-doping standards .