Ashutosh Mehta reunites with Khalid Jamil; signs for Jamshedpur FC

The I-League winner served a two-year ban due to doping and will make a comeback this season.

Ashutosh Mehta, who began his professional career with Mumbai FC in 2010, has played for various teams across India. A hardworking midfielder, Mehta has embraced adventure, playing for 10 clubs in both ISL and I-League. After 11 years of professional football in India, he made his debut for the national team on 25th March 2021, playing 90 minutes against Oman in an international friendly match.

All was going well for Mehta after his India debut and a solid season with NorthEast United in 2020-21. This success led to a mega-deal with ATK Mohun Bagan. He made 19 appearances in the ISL and AFC Cup for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 2021-22 season before receiving a phone call on 24th March 2022, informing him that he had failed a doping test.

The doping scandal

364 days after his India debut, Mehta faced uncertainty over his future. Initially, he thought there was a mistake, but multiple emails from NADA confirmed his failed doping test.

“I panicked after the second email and thought of all the stuff I had consumed. I looked at proteins, multivitamins and only later realized that this is the one,” Ashutosh told TOI a few months ago.

During the anti-doping panel hearing, Mehta explained that a teammate had given him ayurvedic medicine used as a pain reliever, which contained morphine. The panel later concluded that the “anti-doping violation was unintentional,” issuing a two-year ban starting June 24, 2022, when Mehta accepted a provisional suspension after his B sample tested positive.

Also Read: ISL 2024-25: All transfers completed so far in summer transfer window

The road to redemption

Despite his ban, Ashutosh Mehta did not stop training, staying in shape and ready for a transfer once his suspension ended. Now, two years later, Mehta has been training with Jamshedpur FC for the past 15 days. Following the successful completion of the trial, he has signed a contract with the Men of Steel. The full-back has reunited with his original mentor, Khalid Jamil, under whom he played 100+ matches.

Jamil gave Mehta his I-League debut at Mumbai FC, where he played 82 times under him. They also won the I-League title with Aizawl FC in the 2016-17 season.

“Khalid Jamil has given Ashutosh Mehta a chance to make his comeback in Indian football, as terms and conditions have been agreed between Jamshedpur FC and Mehta on a one-year deal. Paperwork has also been signed,” a source tracking Mehta’s journey told Khel Now.

Adding experience & depth

The 33-year-old defender will provide Jamshedpur FC with much-needed experience in the backline and will likely be the first-choice for the right-back position, where the club currently lack options.

Hi,This is to address all concerns and rumours that have surrounded by suspension over the last coupe of years . pic.twitter.com/9uIC1aRXPd

— Ashutosh_mehta1 (@Ashutosh_mehta1) July 3, 2024

Jamshedpur FC’s preparations for ISL 2024-25 season

With the busiest-ever Indian football calendar ahead, the club are slated to play in the Durand Cup with their first-team, as Jamshedpur is one of the host cities. The club’s pre-season camp is expected to begin soon.

With Ashutosh Mehta’s signature, along with Jordan Murray and Mobashir Rahman returning to the club, Sreekuttan VS signing from Gokulam Kerala, Albino Gomes signing from Sreenidi Deccan and key players Rei Tachikawa, Javier Siverio and Seiminlen Doungel signing contract extensions, Jamshedpur FC’s preparations for the next season are on the right track.

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