KM Deeksha, India’s fastest 1500m athlete, has been issued a notice after her sample showed the presence of a banned substance. However, she has not been issued a provisional suspension as reported by The Tribune.

Speaking out for the first time, the national record holder clarified that while she has received a notice regarding an adverse analytical finding, she has not been handed a provisional suspension, contrary to ongoing media reports.

“I have full confidence”

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) issued Deeksha a notice after her sample reportedly showed the presence of stanozolol—an anabolic agent strictly prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list.

Responding to the allegations, Deeksha clarified her current legal standing and expressed full faith in her clean record:

“Bhaiya, I had applied for B-sample testing. Yesterday, I was at the NADA office for the opening of my B sample for testing. Everyone in the news started saying that I am banned. I am not banned; this is an adverse finding.

I have been an RTP (Registered Testing Pool) athlete for the last three years and have given multiple tests. I am talking to you with full confidence because I know I have done nothing wrong.“

Deeksha also specified that the finding stems from an out-of-competition test conducted on February 26, 2026, in Bhopal, as per official NADA website data, rather than her most recent in-competition test in April.

Financial Struggles and State Transfer

Deeksha, who is employed by the Indian Railways, hails from Uttar Pradesh but has competed for Madhya Pradesh since 2019, training at the state-sponsored DSWY Academy in Bhopal.

Her recent absence from major competitive meets sparked initial speculation. She has not raced since winning gold (4:25.74s) at the Indian Athletics Series 2 in Jaipur on April 5, 2026, and notably skipped last month’s National Senior Athletics Federation Cup—a vital qualifying platform for the Commonwealth Games.

However, Deeksha explained that her absence and recent exit from the Bhopal academy are tied to deep financial strain and a desire to return to her home state for better institutional backing.

“Yes, I have asked for an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from MP, as I am financially struggling. I am under a loan burden of ₹6 lakh, even after winning so many medals and setting a national record,” Deeksha revealed. “I have received the NOC from MP and submitted the documents to Uttar Pradesh, but I have not received any update yet. If you win a medal at the Asian Games while representing UP, you receive good cash incentives.”

DSWY Academy chief coach SK Prashad confirmed her departure, noting, “She requested an NOC from the MP Athletics Association. She left the academy in April 2026 after the Jaipur meet.”

Furthermore, a handwritten application dated April 1, 2026, addressed to the Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Department shows Deeksha stating that the Railways department was no longer permitting her to continue training at the academy.

The Science: Why Stanozolol Raises Eyebrows

The reported substance, stanozolol, is an anabolic steroid that assists athletes with muscle building and recovery. Its presence has surprised experts, as it is highly unusual to find it in middle- and long-distance runners.

  • Usage Profile: Stanozolol is predominantly utilized by sprinters.
  • Off-Season Recovery: In longer-distance disciplines, it is sometimes misused during the off-season to facilitate quicker muscle recovery between punishing training blocks.
  • The Distinction: Unlike traditional endurance-boosting substances like Erythropoietin (EPO), stanozolol provides no direct improvement to an athlete’s oxygen-carrying capacity.

Deeksha currently holds India’s standard-setting 1500m national record of 4:04.78s, which she clocked with a third-place finish at the Sound Running Track Fest in Los Angeles, shattering the previous record of 4:05.39s held by Harmilan Bains. Her career now rests on the fast-approaching laboratory analysis of her B-sample.