Indian sprinter Dhanalakshmi Sekar has been handed an eight-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, marking her second doping offence and dealing a major blow to her athletics career.
The sanction was imposed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after the 27-year-old tested positive for drostanolone, an anabolic steroid prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. The latest violation comes shortly after Dhanalakshmi returned to competition following a previous suspension.
Dhanalakshmi made her competitive return in 2025 after serving a ban imposed for an earlier doping offence. She appeared to regain peak form quickly, producing a standout performance at the National Inter-State Championships, where she clocked 11.36 seconds in the 100 metres- the fastest time recorded by an Indian woman in the event in the past four years.
She went on to claim the gold medal, raising expectations around her resurgence. However, the celebrations were short-lived. Subsequent testing revealed the presence of drostanolone, triggering stricter disciplinary action due to the repeat nature of the offence.
Under WADA regulations, a second offence involving anabolic steroids generally results in a standard eight-year ban, unless the athlete is able to demonstrate that the prohibited substance entered the body unintentionally. As per procedure, NADA has initiated disciplinary proceedings, during which Dhanalakshmi is entitled to a formal hearing and the opportunity to submit evidence in her defence.
Dhanalakshmi had earlier been suspended after testing positive for methandienone during out-of-competition testing in 2022, conducted jointly by the Athletics Integrity Unit of World Athletics and NADA. She completed her period of ineligibility and was cleared to return to competition in July 2025, only to test positive again within weeks of her comeback.
Once regarded as a key figure in Indian sprinting, Dhanalakshmi was part of the Indian women’s 4x100m relay team that set the current national record in 2021. The latest development places her future in the sport in serious doubt, with the eight-year ban likely to rule out competitive participation for the remainder of her prime.
