Sprinter Jani Chathurangani tests positive

Dinesh Weerawansa

DOPE TEST: Leading Sri Lanka woman sprinter Jani Chathurangani Silva has tested positive at a doping test done during the recently concluded South Asian Games in Colombo.

The 'A' urine samples of Silva, taken after women's 100m and 4 x 100m relay, have been tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Reports said both the 'A' samples taken after the women's 100m final and 4 x 100m relay, are alleged to have tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Nandralone.

"Apart from the Lankan woman sprinter, eight more urine samples taken during the Games, have tested positive for banned substances," the sources added.

Silva's coach Dervin Perera, who is also the President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka, confirmed that Silva has been tested positive. He said the Director General of Sports Medicine, Dr. Geethanjana Mendis has written to the AASL to inform the positive result.

"We have been told that Jani (Chathurangani Silva) has been tested positive for Nandralone in the 'A' urine sample taken during the South Asian Games. We will have to discuss the matter further with the athlete before making a formal request to test the 'B' sample," Perera said yesterday.

The AASL chief said the athlete had told him that she had taken drugs to delay her periods. "She told me that she took two types of drugs on medical advice for a leg injury as well as to delay her periods. But she has not declared those drugs at the dope test," he explained.

Jani Chathurangani Silva clocked 11.76 seconds to take the women's 100m silver medal behind compatriot Susanthika Jayasinghe (11.33) at the eight-nation Games.

She also did the second lap for Sri Lanka in women's 4 x 100m relay final at which the hosts bagged the gold medal with a new games record timing of 44.63 seconds to better the previous mark of 44.64 seconds held by India since 1999.

Over 200 sportsmen and women were tested for performance enhancing drugs during the ten-day competition which included 20 disciplines. All urine samples taken were sent to an IAAF ratified laboratory in Malaysia for testing.

Now that the 'A ' samples of nine competitors have been tested positive, the authorities could request for a testing of the respective 'B' samples. If the 'B' samples too would indicate the identical results, then those athletes will have to follow the normal procedure of the IAAF.

According to unconfirmed reports, athletes who have been tested positive include an Indian double gold medallist in 400m and 800m, a Nepalese men's 3,000m steeple chase gold medallist and a Pakistani pole vaulter. Reports also added that two Pakistani boxers are amongst those who have been tested in the first urine sample testing.

Accordingly, they would be stripped of their medals, if found guilty, and would be banned for a period of two years. Accordingly, Sri Lanka may lose a gold medal and silver medal they won in athletics, if the controversial woman sprinters 'B' urine sample too tests positive for a banned substance.

Under such a circumstance, second-placed India could claim women's 4 x 100m relay gold medal as they have finished second behind Sri Lanka with a timing of 47.28 seconds. Silva was not available for comment but her coach Perera said he is in touch with her and would discuss the steps to be taken within the next few days.

Silva is only the second Sri Lanka athlete to be tested positive for drugs. Compatriot Susanthika Jayasinghe was twice tested positive for the identical anabolic steroid but was cleared by the IAAF on both occasions on medical evidence after arbitration.