India, Feb. 25 -- Indian long-distance runner Pooja Aatmaram had made a nervous dash away from her chaperone ahead of a scheduled in-competition dope test last year, revealed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) as it handed her a reduced three-year ban for early admission of guilt. The 30-year-old Pooja, who mostly competes in the 5000m and 10,000m events, had finished third in the Indian Grand Prix 2 in 2024 while representing Rajasthan, which remains her most noteworthy performance.

She was picked out for a dope test after winning the Indian Oil WNC Navy Half Marathon in Mumbai on November 23 last year. "The athlete was verbally notified of her selection for testing immediately after she had finished the race by a Doping Control Officer...