Ashutosh Mehta confident of bouncing back after serving suspension for doping

Indian footballer Ashutosh Mehta served a two-year ban for doping. He has now claimed that he was unaware that the substance consumed by him was against the doping policies.

The footballer is now trying to stage a comeback to professional football after his two-year suspension ended last June. He was playing for Mohun Bagan Super Giant (formerly ATK Mohun Bagan) in the Indian Super League (ISL) when he tested positive for morphine in a urine sample that was taken on February 8, 2022. This was after a game between then ATK Mohun Bagan and Hyderabad FC in Bambolim, Goa.

Ashutosh Mehta took to social media, speaking about the incident on his official X account.

"I had consumed a prohibited substance unknowingly, which was provided to me by a trustworthy source for pain relief," he said in a video on X.

"I was unaware of its contents and believed the individual due to the relationship we shared in a sporting capacity. Unfortunately, it turned out to contain morphine, and I was suspended from football due to the anti-doping violation alleged against me,” he added.

Ashutosh Mehta took up the case legally as well. However, it did not help his cause as such.

"I fought the matter legally, but luck was not on my side. I even took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where a hearing was granted to me in July 2023, but the decision has still not been provided," the footballer stated.

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Ashutosh Mehta confident of making a comeback

Ashutosh Mehta represented the country in a solitary game against Oman. The India international is confident of bouncing back from his troubles.

He is keen to play the sport that he loves and is aiming to make a comeback with everything else taking a backseat. Mehta said that he has not stopped his training for a single day and wants to make a strong comeback. June 24 was the last day of the suspension that was imposed on him.

He expressed his gratitude for all the support that he had received during the tough phase.

"Thank you to everyone who stood by me through this difficult time. Regardless of what is happening in your lives, keep working. No matter how you feel, keep working," he said.

He seemed determined to make up for each day when he couldn't take the field.

"To all my well-wishers, I wasn’t buried; I was just planted, and I am ready to play for each day that I couldn’t," Ashutosh concluded.