Ramesh Nagapuri's Provisional Suspension Lifted by Anti-Doping Appeals Panel
Ramesh Nagapuri's Suspension Revoked
Athletics coach Ramesh Nagapuri, who has received the prestigious Dronacharya award, has been granted a reprieve by the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) appeals panel, which has lifted his provisional suspension.
On March 20, the Anti-Doping Appeals Panel (ADAP) overturned the suspension that had been placed on him by NADA on March 17, 2023. The coach faced scrutiny after a doping control officer reported that he obstructed an athlete from signing a notification form and subsequently instructed the athlete to leave the GMC Balayogi Stadium in December 2024, allowing them to avoid a doping test. Additionally, he failed to provide necessary contact information, which indicated "malicious intent and obstruction of sample collection."
Following this, he received a notification on March 17, 2024, for his involvement in complicity, aiding, abetting, conspiring, and attempting to cover up an anti-doping rule violation. He subsequently appealed against the suspension.
In August, the ADDP denied his request to lift the suspension. However, the recent decision to revoke it came with a 2-1 vote in his favor. Geetanjali Sharma, the panel's chair, and former Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal supported Ramesh's appeal, while Dr. Rana Chengappa aligned with NADA officials, arguing that the coach's interference warranted no relief.
The order dated March 20, 2026, stated, "Since the matter is pending for final adjudication from the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) without commenting on the merits of the case and only based on the initial submissions from both parties to date, the provisional suspension imposed upon the appellant by NADA is revoked until the case is finally resolved by the ADDP."
Ramesh's attorney, Parth Goswami, expressed that the ruling confirms their position that the coach was not involved in the doping evasion incident.
"We have always asserted that Ramesh Nagapuri had no involvement in this matter. The accusations against him are completely baseless," Goswami stated to a media outlet on Friday.
"It is acknowledged that the two athletes involved independently evaded doping tests. Such evasion is a serious anti-doping rule violation, potentially leading to a four-year ban. It is illogical to suggest that a coach would advise or encourage athletes to evade testing, especially when the athletes were properly notified by NADA officials," he added.