Mumbai FC footballer Nishant Mehra has been banned for two years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing the dope test conducted on him in January this year.
Mehra, was provisionally suspended by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for three months when his "A" sample returned positive as it found unexplained use of the banned drug Tetrahydrocannobinol (THC), making him the first Indian footballer to be banned for drug abuse, AIFF sources said.
NADA have been conducting in competition checks in the I-League since January and Mehra was among the seven footballers who were tested in Pune.
When Mehra's "A" sample returned positive, the AIFF suspended him provisionally but with the "B" sample also testing positive, NADA were left with no choice but to hand the young footballer a two-year ban.
Mehra, was given a chance by the NADA to explain how the banned drug entered in his body, but failed to give a satisfactory answer.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, according to those in the know, is found in drugs like hashish and marijuana.
