Karnataka High Court Quashes 4-Year Doping Ban on Basketball Player Shashank J Rai

The Karnataka High Court set aside a 4-year doping ban on national basketball player Shashank J Rai, saying proper legal procedure was not followed.

The Court found that key provisions of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, especially Sections 21 and 22, were violated, including the right to a fair hearing and proper sample handling.

Rai argued that traces of the banned substance (19-Norandrosterone) came from eating pork, and his claim was backed by expert opinions and bills, but was ignored by the Anti-Doping Panel.

The Court said fairness matters more than strict liability while quashing the ban.