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Policeman Mukul Sharma banned by NADA for doping

Policeman Mukul Sharma banned by NADA for doping
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By

Sohinee Basu

Published: 19 Dec 2019 7:27 AM GMT

Things have turned dark and dreary yet again with policeman and weightlifter Mukul Sharma being caught for doping charges by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA). The weightlifter from Chandigarh University was found guilty when he tested positive for the consumption of a prohibited substance Tamoxifen, which was discovered in his bloodstream. Sharma has been banned by the NADA for a period of four years under Article 10.2.1.2. The gold medal winner in the 73 kg of weightlifting category at the All India Police Wrestling Cluster Championships 2018-19, Sharma has been blacklisted by the NADA following this rule violation.

Sharma's sample tested positive for Tamoxifen SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulators) which is listed under prohibited substances by the NADA. Being a police personnel as well as an athlete, the weightlifter from Chandigarh has fallen into the blacklist of the Doping Agency following the test results. Tamoxifen, which is a drug generally used to treat breast cancers and possess receptors for estrogen, a hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body, finds common usage in doping for power-lifting athletes.

The estrogen molecules fit into these receptors, like a key fitting into a lock, making the malignant cells active. Tamoxifen blocks these estrogen receptors, interfering with cancer's ability to grow and develop. The production of large doses of the male hormone, testosterone, causes the body to produce additional estrogen. This, in turn, can result in enlarged breasts, a feature that most weightlifters deem as unappealing. To counteract the effects of estrogen and mask their steroid use, these athletes resort to taking tamoxifen. Although tamoxifen isn't known to enhance or boost the performance they are thought to alleviate symptoms of PEDs.

Sharma, being a policeman makes the scenario worse in this case. His behaviour was thought to be reckless when he could not offer a satisfactory explanation for the presence of tamoxifen in his test sample. The winner of several medals at the All India Police Games cluster, especially in its 67th edition has found himself cornered with his back against the wall. All his medals and other competitive results recorded after 1/03/2019 has been forfeited by the National Doping Agency.

Stripped of all honours along with his achievements, Mukul Sharma cuts out a pitiful picture for himself. Simply owing to a casual and reckless attitude, Sharma finds himself under such rigorous torment and most importantly faces a ban of four years from competitive sports. The weightlifter from Chandigarh could not explain how the drug entered his body, which ideally he should have been aware of given his status as an athlete. As a state servant, his position stands compromised as this kind of a slack behavior is not at all expected. The NADA has been extremely strict with Sharma, who will now have to involuntarily keep away from all competitions, at least for the next four years.

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