Cocaine row shakes Indian polo

The Indian Polo Association (IPA) has taken a strong note on “provisional exoneration” granted to ace polo player Siddhant Sharma by the disciplinary committee of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), as reported by The Pioneer on January 19, 2026. Sharma is a professional player of the Jindal Panther Polo Team, a venture by industrialist and three-time MP, and also a polo player, Naveen Jindal.

“A committee composed as under will assemble at the earliest but not later than 23 January 2026 to analyse the use of prohibited substances by Mr Siddhant Sharma and recommend further course of action in accordance with guidelines of NADA and IPA,” said IPA Executive Committee January 19, 2026 notice to the player under the subject Doping Control- Notification of Advance Analytical Finding in respect of Mr Siddhant Sharma.

“Let the meeting be convened on the matter. We shall let you know whatever call is taken,” Shergill told The Pioneer over phone. The committee is chaired by Jai Shergill, with Deepak Udar and Captain (IN) A P Singh as members, and Col V S Kahlon, VSM, as its Honorary Secretary, the Indian Army Chief is the elected President of the Indian Polo Association.

In India, the punishment for taking cocaine is rigorous imprisonment up to one year, a fine of up to ?20,000, or both. Charges are brought under Section 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The severity of the penalty is determined by the quantity of the drug involved and the nature of the offense (consumption, possession, or trafficking).

“All offences under the NDPS Act are cognizable and non-bailable, meaning an individual can be arrested without a warrant and bail is not automatically granted,” said a senior official in anti-narcotic cell.Sources in the IPA said that the members have taken a strong view on the news item that has shaken the conscience of the entire polo fraternity, as the player has committed a crime by taking cocaine and demands immediate prosecution.

“We have taken strong note of the contradictions with respect to Siddhant Sharma’s statement on the affidavit. First, in his affidavit submitted to NADA he has admitted that he took cocaine on October 14, 2025, for Diwali entertainment, he was tested by the NADA team at Jaipur Polo Grounds on Sunday, October 19, 2025 after the polo match of the Baroda Cup. Siddhant tried to take advantage of `in competition’ and ‘out of competition’ clause in NADA guidelines by stating in his affidavit that his taking Cocaine on October 14, 2025 and then playing the polo match on October 19, 2025 when he was tested after a gap of five days should be counted as out of competition use of the drug,” source explained.

“Whereas the fact is that the draw of the Baroda Cup tournament was conducted by the association on October 13, 2025 and the schedule of the tournament was published and circulated same day by the association. Siddhant played league games of the tournament on the Jindal team on October 15, 2025 and October 17, 2025 before playing the finals of Baroda Cup on October 19, 2025 where he was tested by NADA. Siddhant knew very well on October 14, 2025 when he took Cocaine that he had a tournament game on October 15, 2025 which was the very next day, though he took the banned substance, knowing very well he would play as the draw for games was held on October 13, 2025, itself. He has therefore submitted false and misleading information on his affidavit to NADA to obtain provisional sanction to play from the NADA panel. (The Pioneer has a copy of the association draw / fixture list of the Baroda Cup). Attempts are being made to save Siddhant Sharma’s skin by misrepresenting facts in his affidavit to NADA,” sources in IPA revealed under strict anonymity.

Siddhant Sharma is in the list of 88 sports persons on whom a provisional ban was imposed by NADA on January 01, 2026. Sharma was exonerated by NADA, which comes under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, within a fortnight of his suspension, even though he is the only one listed for taking contraband Cocaine. The urine sample findings in Siddhant Sharma are on the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).