Doping shock rocks Indian athletics as javelin thrower DP Manu handed four-year ban

Why has DP Manu been banned from athletics until 2028?

Indian javelin thrower DP Manu has been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for a prohibited anabolic steroid, marking a major setback for Indian athletics. The 25-year-old athlete’s suspension was confirmed by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) in a verdict dated March 3, 2025. The ban, effective from June 24, 2024, will prevent Manu from participating in any sanctioned athletics competitions until mid-2028.

The positive test was traced back to the Indian Grand Prix 1 meet in Bengaluru in April 2024, where DP Manu had finished first in the javelin throw event with a top effort of 81.91 metres. His sample tested positive for methyltestosterone, a synthetic anabolic steroid banned under Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of NADA’s Anti-Doping Rules, which relate to the presence and use of prohibited substances or methods.

Manu had been under provisional suspension since June 2024, just weeks before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics, ruling him out of the Games and all international qualification events. The official four-year ban retroactively starts from that date.

What were DP Manu’s credentials before the doping ban?

Before his suspension, DP Manu was widely seen as one of India’s most promising javelin talents. His career trajectory was marked by consistent performances and progressive improvements, positioning him as a viable successor to Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. Manu had made headlines with his silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 in Bangkok and a sixth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.

His personal best throw of 84.35 metres, achieved during the 2022 Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai, placed him among the top javelin throwers in Asia. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he finished fifth, throwing 82.28 metres in the final.

With world rankings being a key qualifying route for the Paris Olympics, Manu was part of the Athletics Integrity Unit’s Registered Testing Pool in the first quarter of 2024. His performances during this period had kept him in contention for Olympic qualification. However, the doping violation and provisional suspension in June 2024 brought his Olympic hopes to an abrupt halt, just a month before the Paris Games.

What is methyltestosterone and why is it banned in athletics?

Methyltestosterone is a synthetic anabolic steroid used medically to treat testosterone deficiencies but is banned in all forms of competitive sports due to its muscle-enhancing properties. It can promote increased strength, faster recovery, and greater muscle mass—making it particularly attractive to athletes seeking performance gains in power sports such as javelin, shot put, or sprinting.

Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, methyltestosterone is classified as a non-specified substance, meaning that its detection generally leads to more severe penalties. Unlike some substances where athletes can argue unintentional contamination or therapeutic use, the detection of an anabolic steroid like methyltestosterone almost always results in full-term bans, especially if the athlete fails to provide a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) or viable explanation.

In Manu’s case, no evidence of a TUE or mitigating factors was presented publicly, and the ADDP imposed the standard four-year sanction.

How does this affect India’s javelin program and Olympic ambitions?

The suspension of DP Manu is a serious setback for Indian athletics, particularly for the men’s javelin event, which has been under the spotlight ever since Neeraj Chopra‘s Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020. With Chopra continuing to perform at the highest level, India had hoped to build a deep bench of elite javelin throwers, including Manu, to boost its medal chances across global competitions.

Manu’s consistent form in 2022 and 2023, along with his ranking-driven push toward Paris 2024 qualification, had made him a valuable part of India’s athletics contingent. His absence leaves a visible gap, especially given that very few Indian throwers are consistently breaching the 83–84 metre mark required to be globally competitive.

Additionally, his suspension underscores a growing challenge in Indian athletics: managing the balance between performance pressure and regulatory compliance. As international scrutiny on Indian athletes increases, particularly those qualifying for Olympic or World Championship events, any doping-related issue carries broader implications for the credibility of India’s sporting ecosystem.

Has India faced similar doping issues in recent years?

India has long struggled with doping infractions, consistently ranking among the countries with the highest number of anti-doping rule violations according to WADA annual reports. While the number of elite-level athletes testing positive has reduced in recent years, cases like DP Manu’s indicate that challenges remain—particularly in educating and monitoring athletes operating at the national and inter-state level.

Historically, India’s athletics has seen suspensions across disciplines including sprinting, long-distance running, and weightlifting. However, the javelin throw event had remained largely untouched by such controversies until now. That perception has now been dented, and it is expected that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and NADA will intensify educational campaigns, testing protocols, and athlete workshops to prevent similar violations ahead of major international events.

What are the long-term consequences for DP Manu’s career?

A four-year suspension during an athlete’s prime is difficult to recover from. By the time Manu’s ban ends in June 2028, he will be 29 years old, having missed the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, and potentially the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Although some athletes do return from long suspensions, the journey is fraught with reputational damage, physical decline, and loss of competitive momentum. Sponsors often distance themselves, and national federations may hesitate to reintegrate suspended athletes into core training or funding programs. Even if Manu maintains personal training during the ban period, his chances of regaining elite form remain uncertain.

More critically, repeat doping offenders face lifetime bans under World Athletics and WADA regulations, meaning that Manu will be under heightened surveillance if he attempts a return to sport in the next cycle.

What lessons does this incident offer for anti-doping compliance in Indian sport?

DP Manu’s ban presents an important case study on the need for continuous anti-doping education, particularly for athletes rising through domestic ranks. With substances like methyltestosterone being widely known and easily traceable, athletes must be better equipped to make informed choices around supplements, prescriptions, and coaching advice.

This incident may prompt the Athletics Federation of India and NADA to introduce pre-clearance checks, tighter supplement guidelines, and perhaps even mandatory anti-doping certifications for athletes before competing in Olympic qualifiers or international meets. The goal would be to reinforce both awareness and accountability.

India’s expanding presence in world athletics demands a shift not only in training intensity but also in regulatory compliance and ethical conduct. DP Manu’s case is a reminder that the margin for error has narrowed—and the stakes have never been higher.