NAGPUR’S international long distance runner Nikita Raut has been handed a three-year doping ban by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) recently. Nagpur, which is known as a city of talented long distance runners all over the country, will have to live with the ignominy of producing three dope offenders. NADA has informed the International Association of Athletics Federations or World Athletics’ Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) about the ban on the city athlete. AIU has posted the list of 11 banned athletes along with the name of Nikita on its website.

 

The duration of the three-year ban will be counted from May 2, 2022 to 10 July 2025. Last year, Nikita, representing Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), won the 5,000 metres gold medal in the Khelo India University Games at Bengaluru. NADA had taken her urine sample during that competition where anabolic steroids (19-nortestosterone) was found in her blood. The steroid, which is used to improve strength of muscles, has been in the list of banned substances from the IAAF for the last 30 years. The three-year ban on 25-year-old Nikita means that all her achievements after May 2, 2022, including the Khelo India University Games gold medal, will be stripped off and she will have to return the medals and the certificates.