At the 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo, Rajendra Bhandari secured a sensational finish to claim two gold medals in athletics—in the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m race. The 29-year-old’s feat was special for many reasons. It was the first time a Nepali player clinched two gold medals in one edition of the Games and Nepal had never, and still hasn’t, secured a top-podium finish in the short- and middle-distance race.

But the joy over Bhandari’s win was short-lived. A doping test revealed the presence of the anabolic steroid NorandrosteroneIt, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Bhandari was subsequently stripped of his gold medals.

It was the first time that a Nepali athlete had been caught doping on an international stage. But Bhandari maintains that he doesn’t know how the steroid entered his body.

Of lately, players of different games have been using different supplements and it is essential for them to know if the supplements contain banned substance or not. Most of the national team footballers use protein as supplements and they vary from game to game.

“I used to take vitamins, calcium and iron as supplements, all under the supervision of doctors and coaches,” said Bhandari, who suspects foul play in the doping test. “It normally takes 24-hours for the results of the doping test. In my case, the report was revealed after a month.”

National football team vice-captain Sujal Shrestha said that most of the footballers have been using protein of various brands as supplements. “We started using supplements after Jack Stafenowski came to Nepal as coach in 2013. It was he, who introduced supplements to us. But the protein we have been taking is not a banned substance. We are aware of doping and we even keep medical prescription for quite some time.”

It was not Bhandari who was affected by the doping case. His coaches Sushil Narshinga Rana, who retired four months ago as National Sports Council coach, and Narayan Pradhan both faced a six-month suspension. Rana’s promotion was stopped for five years at the council.

Germany, which was helping train Nepali athletes through the Nepal-Germany Athletics Project, also withdrew from its training programme.

Coach Rana, however, firmly believes that Bhandari was guilty of consuming the banned substance.

“I did not know he was taking steroids but I believe he did. His behaviour changed when he was taken to the doping control room,” said Rana.

According to Dr Saroj Krishna Shrestha, coordinator of the Anti-Doping Committee for the upcoming 13th South Asian Games, athletes take banned substances like steroids to increase their strength and stamina. “Players should be serious and consult doctors even before taking supplements. Sometimes players are caught in doping for taking banned substance unknowingly,” said Shrestha.

“We have been conducting anti-doping classes to players from every sports association time and again. Players need to be the most responsible because banned substances do not enter the body by themselves,” said Shrestha, who is also the medical commission chairman at the Nepal Olympic Committee.

Though the basic information on doping in the past and now are same, the list in medicine changes from time to time. “Some of the old drugs have been removed from the list while some new ones are added. Even the cheaters have changed the pattern of taking drugs so they go unnoticed,” said Shrestha, adding that testing positive in doping could end players’ career as the sanction for doping has increased from two to four years.

However, the prohibition does not apply in emergency cases. “In case of emergency, there must be a report of diagnosis and prescription from a medical practitioner. And that must be submitted at the earliest—by two or three days,” said Shrestha adding that even simple medicine like D-Cold can test positive in doping. “The players must be aware that they do not take steroids. They must introduce doctors that they are players,” he said.

According to Shrestha, the doping control body will check some 100 to 150 athletes. The doping test will be divided into three categories—medal winners, record holders and random check. Around 60-70 persons, including eight doctors from abroad, will come to Nepal for doping purpose.”

“I never took the banned substance knowingly. Even if I have consumed it unknowingly, I faced punishment. But the emotional part of losing medal and falling from grace is really painful which can’t be described,” said Bhandari. “I have given limitless joy to all Nepali with the medals but they were all disappointed and I apologise for that.”