Seema Punia
Credit: PTI Photo
Veteran discus thrower Seema Antil Punia has formally appealed the 16-month suspension handed to her by NADA's Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP), confirming that she approached the Appellate Anti-Doping Panel (ADAP) on December 4.
Athletes move to ADAP when they wish to contest sanctions imposed by the disciplinary panel or accepted through a results-management agreement, and the four-time CWG medallist said she was left with no choice after the ADDP rejected her explanation.
The 42-year-old athelte shared documents with DH, showing she had declared the oral use of T-clomiphene citrate (100 mg) for 20 days as part of her treatment, which she listed in the doping control form at the time of sample collection.
“The sample weren’t taken at any competition," said Seema. "It was taken while I was training in Haryana as the authorities told me that I won’t be allowed to compete in any events if I don’t do basic training,” she said. “The sample was taken in February 2024 and before that I started my treatment after the National Games (which took place in October-November). I mentioned the same in my form while submitting the sample.”
Seema further added that the medication detected was medically necessary.
“The salt that came up in my sample, my treatment wasn’t possible without it. I put forward all this to ADDP but it seems they were not convinced. I was given the option to appeal against the decision and I opted for it.”
She admitted one oversight of not filing for the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). “A mistake I would admit to is that I didn’t fill in the TUE form as I felt I didn’t need to inform what I am doing in my personal life as far as the treatment is concerned.”
ADAP will now review her submission and decide whether the 16-month sanction should be altered or upheld.