(News Report)
The doping controversy has shattered India’s confidence in their sports heroes. Ashwini Akkunji and Priyanka Pawar have been tested positive for the banned methandieone, an anabolic steroid. Their ‘B’ samples were tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory and results confirm the presence of the banned steroid.
M.L Dogra, Director, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirmed the results. The athletes will now have to appear before a National Anti- Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel.
Ashwini’s case is even more saddening. She has not only picked up a second gold in 400m hurdles in China but, she was part of the gold winning 4x400m team in the Commonwealth Games (CWG).
Ashwini has joined her gold medal-winning relay team-mates Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, whose 'B' samples have also tested positive for anabolic steroids. With this, the number of positive cases has gone up to eight.
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza expressed her disappointment over this issue as out of eight positive cases, seven are women. She also added that if they are proven guilty strict action should be taken against them. ‘Being a sportsperson myself, I think any of these athletes should not be accused of doing anything wrong until proven. But if they are proven guilty, of course they should be punished,’ she said to Hindustan Times.
On the other hand, Ashwini Akkunji is pleading innocence. Speaking to Hindustan Times she said, ‘I am innocent and have never failed a dope test before this. We only took the food supplements recommended by our coach and only after consuming the supplements, we have been tested positive.’
In these surprising turn of events, the sports ministry sacked Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogrodnik who was the trainer to six of the eight athletes who failed the dope test. He was responsible of the women’s 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400 m hurdles since 1999.
Yuri Ogrodnik told the media that he is not involved in this issue and is ready to face any enquiry that comes his way. He also feels that someone is deliberately involving him in this controversy to tarnish his reputation.
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