Indian long-distance runner Pooja Aatmaram had made a nervous sprint away from her Chaperone forward of a scheduled in-competition dope take a look at final yr, revealed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) because it handed her a diminished three-year ban for early act of contrition.
The 30-year-old Ms. Aatmaram, who largely competes within the 5000m and 10,000m occasions, had completed third within the Indian Grand Prix 2 in 2024 whereas representing Rajasthan, which stays her most noteworthy efficiency.
She was picked out for a dope take a look at after profitable the Indian Oil WNC Navy Half Marathon in Mumbai on November 23 final yr.
“The Athlete was verbally notified of her choice for Testing instantly after she had completed the Race by a Doping Management Officer (DCO) and a Lead DCO. The Athlete didn’t signal the Doping Management Kind (DCF) on the time of notification,” the AIU mentioned in its detailed judgement.
“Following the verbal notification, the Athlete was accompanied by a Chaperone from the end line heading in direction of the Doping Management Station (DCS). Throughout this time, the Athlete ran away from the Chaperone and right into a crowd.
“The Chaperone tried to find the Athlete and instantly reported that the Athlete had run away and disappeared into the gang after verbal notification of her choice for Testing to the DCO, who subsequently knowledgeable the Race Director,” it added.
The Race Director then tried to contact her over the telephone, however the AIU mentioned she didn’t reply to any of these calls. “The Lead DCO additionally tried to achieve the Athlete by phone, with out success. No Pattern was in the end collected from the Athlete,” it mentioned.
Describing the chain of occasions that led to her escape, the AIU mentioned the DCO and the Chaperone described Ms. Aatmaram as “exhausted and sweating” after the race. She picked up a water bottle from a stand close to the end line whereas being accompanied by the Chaperone earlier than working away.
“The Athlete proceeded in direction of the DCS with the Chaperone, who repeatedly checked that she remained inside their sight because of the crowded situations. The Athlete appeared nervous and appeared round,” the AIU report said.
“Earlier than reaching the DCS, the Athlete ran away from the Chaperone and in the other way of the DCS. The Chaperone ran after her however overpassed her within the crowd and, regardless of looking the world, was unable to find the Athlete.”
The apology
Disciplinary proceedings towards Ms. Aatmaram have been initiated on February 3 this yr. She apologised for her motion inside every week of being notified of the cost towards her.
“On 9 February 2026, the Athlete wrote to the AIU and said that she apologised and regretted refusing to undergo Pattern assortment on 23 November 2025. On 17 February 2026, the AIU acquired an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Penalties Kind signed by the Athlete,” the AIU mentioned.
On account of her compliance, the AIU waived off for one yr from her four-year ban. The suspension could be efficient retrospectively from February 3, the date on which she was provisionally suspended.
The AIU additionally mentioned her outcomes on and since November 23 would stand disqualified. She has waived her proper to have these penalties decided by the Disciplinary Tribunal at a listening to.
Revealed – February 24, 2026 12:30 pm IST