Indian fencer Chunni Lal has claimed that the Viagra he took to improve his libido was the reason behind his positive test for doping.
The 20-year-old from Rajasthan had in fact tested positive for Androstanolone, an anabolic steroid banned under World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada)’s 2018 prohibited list.
The Commonwealth Championships and Asian Junior Championships medallist has been suspended for four years.
The National Anti Doping Agency of India said ina statement that Chunni Lal had initially claimed that he had a fever and had taken medication on the advice of doctors from the Sports Authority of India.
But following his B sample test also showing traces of the steroid, he claimed he had taken Viagra purchased at a local chemist shop.
Viagra is not included in the list of banned medicines.
This is not the first instance that an athlete caught doping had come up with bizarre excuse for their indiscretion.
Like Chunni Lal, LaShawn Merritt, the 2008 Olympic 400m champion, failed three drug tests between 2009 and 2010 and cited using “an over-the-counter male enhancement product” as his excuse. He had consumed the penis enlargement supplement ExtenZe
Cyclist Björn Leukemans tried to explain his positive test for testosterone in 2007 on the testers showing up while he was making love to his wife.
Another cyclist Tyler Hamilton was even more creative, He had blamed on a positive test for homologous blood transfusions on a “vanishing twin” which was absorbed into his own body before birth.
Dennis Mitchell, an Olympic champion in 1992, who was also once Justin Gaitlin’s coach blamed for the high levels testosterone in 1998 to “five bottles of beer and sex with his wife”. The USA Track and Field accepted the reason but the IAAF did not and he was banned retroactively for two years.
Spanish race walker Daniel Plaza who had claimed that the reason for a positive drug test was because had oral sex with his pregnant wife. Nandrolone can be detected in women during pregnancy.
And blame was also put on ghosts.
New York Jets player Jeremy Kerley had claimed that a ghost may have been involved in his suspension for testing positive for performing-enhancing drugs.
Things can get even bizarre.When five members of the North Korean team at the 2011 Women’s World Cup were found to have 14 different types of steroids in their system, it was blamed on a something incredible.
The North Koreans had claimed that the players were in a shock after a lightning bolt struck where they were training and to help the recover, they were treated with liquid from a glandular bag of deers that lives in the regions of Siberia and Nepal.
Tennis player Richard Gasquet had claimed innocence because his positive result was due to kisses from women he was partying with.
Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor was was given a one year suspension for testing positive for cocaine in 1999. He blamed the Mafia while his government blamed the CIA.
But for now Chunni Lal and his Viagra rules the day.
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