NADA Imposes 8-Year Suspension on Sprinter Dhanalakshmi

Indian sprinter Dhanalakshmi Sekar has been handed an eight-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after failing a dope test.

The 27-year-old athlete had only recently returned to competition in 2025 following an earlier suspension. Her comeback included a remarkable performance at the Inter-State Championships, where she clinched gold with a timing of 11.36 seconds — the fastest by an Indian woman in the last four years, matching Giridharani’s 2023 national mark.

However, her renewed success was short-lived as she once again tested positive for the prohibited substance Drostanolone, leading to the severe sanction.

The development has sent shockwaves through the Indian athletics community.