The International Testing Agency confirmed on Saturday that Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar has been sanctioned with a 21-month period of ineligibility after testing positive for the prohibited substance higenamine.
According to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), higenamine can act as as a general stimulant because it has mixed adrenergic receptor activity. It can also increase cardiac output by strengthening heart contraction.
After a ban, the 29-year-old will be missing all four Apparatus World Cup Series tournaments and also three of the six World Challenge Cup Series. Dipa acquired the fourth spot in the vault event of the 2016 Rio Olympics and scored 14.150 to secure the top position in the tournament. The gymnast was out of action after her impressive performance in Rio Olympics because of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.
"I had got injured after the Olympics and could not compete. People thought my career had ended. I'd like to thank my coach for his support. I will give my best at Asian Games and will be focusing on the vault specially," Karmakar told ANI.
Dipa's name has been included in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for the Asian Games. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Dipa on her achievement and tweeted, "India is proud of @DipaKarmakar! Congratulations to her on winning a well-deserved Gold in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. This win is a prime example of her tenacity and never-say-die attitude."
Earlier, Amitabh Bachchan has congratulated ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who won gold at the Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup. The megastar also praised her by saying that he was a proud Indian because of her.
He tweeted: "Congratulations to Dipa Karmakar. She has won gold in the world championships for gymnastics on the vault. You proved to the world that what was wrongly denied to you in the Olympics, you won it here. Proud of you. We are proud Indians because of you!"