The best gymnast in India Karmakar dipa bronze medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Commonwealth Games, he is serving a 21-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) conducted an out-of-competition test of the Karmakar dip on October 11, 2021 on behalf of the FIG, the global gymnastics governing body. The sample tested positive for higenamine, which is on the list of banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (DEFECT).
Higenamine is a stimulant commonly found in weight management products and dietary supplements, among others.
The suspension of 29-year-old Dipa Karmakar began on the day the sample was collected and will run until July 10, 2023. The original ban was longer, but was shortened by three months after Indian gymnast accepted the doping report.
Dipa Karmakar, who is from Tripura, became the first Indian gymnast to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. The medal came in the 2014 Glasgow CWG. The following year, Karmakar won an unprecedented bronze medal for India at the Asian Championships in Hiroshima, Japan.
In Rio 2016, Karmakar became the first gymnast to represent India at the Olympics. She narrowly missed an Olympic medal after finishing fourth in the voltage gymnastics competition.
In a statement, Dipa Karmakar claimed that she unknowingly ingested the banned substance and could not determine its source.
“Today ends one of the longest battles I have fought for myself and my career,” said Dipa Karmakar. “It was painful not to know how the substances got into my system… Gymnastics is all I have and I would never do anything that would bring disgrace to me or my country.
“I’m glad the matter has been resolved amicably… Can’t wait to get back on the court!” Karmakar finished.
