Anmol Vasistha, a rising star in India’s para‑athletics scene, is out of the game for three years after a urine sample taken on March 11 at the New Delhi Grand Prix turned up a metabolite of dehydrochloromethyl‑testosterone (DHCMT). The IPC’s decision follows the provisional suspension that began April 24, after the athlete accepted the anti‑doping rule violation and the consequences proposed.
The substance, listed on the World Anti‑Doping Agency’s 2026 Prohibited List, is a powerful anabolic steroid. Vasistha’s sample, collected during the men’s javelin throw F55 event, was flagged for DHCMT, a chemical that can boost muscle mass and performance. The IPC’s in‑competition test left no doubt—an adverse analytical finding that triggers immediate action.
Under the anti‑doping code, athletes are fully responsible for any prohibited substances in their system, whether taken intentionally or not. The IPC’s statement was blunt: no excuses, no leniency. Vasistha accepted the ruling, and the three‑year ban runs from April 24, 2026, to April 23, 2029.
All his results from the New Delhi Grand Prix are voided—medals, points, prizes, the whole package. The IPC disqualified his javelin throw performance and every other result from that competition, wiping the slate clean for his record books. The sanction also bars him from competing or participating in any sporting activity during the ban, except for sanctioned anti‑doping education or rehabilitation programmes.
The ban comes at a time when India is gearing up for the Asian Games 2026, and it sends a stark warning to para‑athletes across the country: the doping code is iron‑clad. Vasistha’s three‑year absence will leave a void in the national squad and could derail his aspirations for the next major championships. The next hurdle for India’s para‑athletics is to rebuild trust and ensure clean sport at every level.