Mumbai FC's midfielder Nishant Mehra on Wecnesday tested positive for an in-competition prohibited substance -- tetrahydrocannabinol -- in the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) list. With this act he has gained the tag of being the first footballer in the history of the I-League to fail a dope test.
Mehra's 'A' sample tested positive in the dope test that was conducted in Pune.
Now the midfielder will appear before the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) Panel on Thursday.
The footballer's 'B' sample will also be tested in his presence before an appropriate action is taken against the player.
"If his 'B' sample tests positive tomorrow, he will face two-year ban under NADA rules since it is his first offence," I-League CEO Sunando Dhar said.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is basically a synthetic drug used in parties and not as a performance enhancing drug.
Random dope tests in the I-League started last month in Pune and so far it has been conducted on nine out of the 14 participating teams.
