Fri, August 01, 2025
World Athletics v Madhuri Kale
A decision has been issued by the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal in the case of World Athletics (WA) against Ms Madhuri Kale, a 27-year-old amateur half-marathon runner from India.
Ms Kale was found to have committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under Rules 2.1 and 2.2 of the 2025 World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), following an In-Competition urine Sample collected on 8 December 2024 at the Indian Oil WMC Navy Half Marathon, where she placed first. Analysis by the WADA-accredited laboratory in New Delhi, India detected the presence of mephentermine at a concentration of 3.2 µg/mL. Mephentermine is classified under S6.A: Non-Specified Stimulants on the WADA Prohibited List 2024 and is prohibited In-Competition. Phentermine, another Prohibited Substance, was also detected in Ms Kale’s sample; however, its concentration was below the threshold for World Athletics to pursue an additional charge.
Following a notification of the Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), Ms Kale was provisionally suspended on 8 January 2025. She denied the use of any Prohibited Substance and expressed uncertainty as to how mephentermine had entered her system. Despite being afforded the opportunity to request a B Sample analysis or enter into a case resolution agreement, she did not pursue either option. In a formal response dated 28 February 2025, Ms Kale contested the Charges and requested a hearing before the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal. She subsequently obtained pro bono legal representation through Sport Resolutions.
On 25 April 2025, the Chairman of the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal appointed Dr Anna Bordiugova to act as Chair of the Panel to hear this matter.
At the hearing, Ms Kale maintained that she had not intentionally used a Prohibited Substance and sought a reduction in the period of Ineligibility on the basis of No Significant Fault or Negligence. She submitted that she was an amateur athlete with no coaching, medical, or institutional support, and had received no formal anti-doping education.
Ms Kale proposed several possible explanations for the presence of mephentermine, including drinking from another athlete’s water bottle, consuming Red Bull, and taking a tablet of Vicks Action 500, which she had declared on her Doping Control Form. However, she neither submitted the medication for analysis nor provided packaging or any other evidence to demonstrate that mephentermine was listed as an ingredient. Ms Kale accepted the Disqualification of her results from 8 December 2024 to 8 January 2025 and requested that each party bear its own legal costs. She also cited mitigating factors including financial hardship, language barriers, and the absence of legal representation earlier in the process.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) argued that Ms Kale had failed to meet the burden of proof required to establish the source of the Prohibited Substance, which is a necessary condition for any reduction in sanction. The AIU emphasised the principle of Strict Liability, asserting that regardless of her amateur status, Ms Kale had an obligation to understand and comply with anti-doping rules, particularly given her participation in sanctioned competitions. The AIU subsequently withdrew an earlier request for Ms Kale to contribute to its legal costs.
The Panel found that Ms Kale had committed violations under both Rule 2.1 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance) and Rule 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method). It held that the explanations provided for unintentional ingestion were unsubstantiated and unpersuasive, and that Ms Kale had not taken reasonable steps to familiarise herself with her anti-doping obligations. The Panel further noted that mephentermine is known to be misused in India, and the concentration found in Ms Kale’s Sample exceeded levels typically associated with inadvertent contamination.
As such, the Panel found that Ms Kale had failed to demonstrate that the ADRVs were unintentional and therefore, found no basis for reducing the sanction. A four (4) year period of Ineligibility was imposed, effective from the date of the decision, with credit given for the Provisional Suspension served since 8 January 2025. Ms Kale’s competitive results from 8 December 2024 to 8 January 2025 were Disqualified, including the forfeiture of any medals, titles, points, and prize money earned during that period. Each party was directed to bear its own legal costs, and all other relief sought was denied.
Sport Resolutions is the independent secretariat to the World Athletics Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal.
A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.
Related Documents
- WA v Madhuri KaleDecision
