New Delhi, March 27 The provisional suspension imposed on former national junior athletics head coach Nagpuri Ramesh has been revoked by the NADA's Anti-Doping Appeal Panel, according to his counsel.
Nagpuri, based at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Hyderabad and appointed as the junior chief coach by the Athletics Federation of India in 2023, is a renowned Dronacharya Award winner.
He has coached top sprinter and women's 100m national record holder Dutee Chand, as well as Deepthi Jeevanji, the 2024 Paralympics bronze medalist.
In April last year, he was suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) under Article 2.9 of the Anti-Doping Rules of 2021, which deals with 'Complicity or attempted complicity by an athlete or other Person'.
"The Honorable Anti-Doping Appeal Panel has revoked the provisional suspension imposed on Dronacharya Award winner Coach Ramesh Nagapuri. The case arose from allegations under Article 2.9 (complicity) – relating to the attempt by two athletes to evade drug testing," said Nagpuri's lawyer Parth Goswami.
Under this article, "Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up, or any other intentional complicity or attempted complicity involving a violation of the anti-doping rules, attempted violation of the anti-doping rules, or a violation of Article 10.14.1 by another person (including either physical or psychological assistance) will constitute a doping offence."
According to sources, Nagpuri allegedly helped two athletes avoid being tested by drug collection officers (DCOs) sent by NADA at the SAI Hyderabad Centre.