Two Pakistani boxers test positive for doping

Chris Dhambarage

BOXING: Two Pakistani boxers who participated at the recent 10th South Asian Games in Colombo have been tested positive for doping and were banned from the game for a period of six months by the disciplinary committee of the SA Games yesterday.

Kareem Khan and Mithullah Lassi were found guilty of using the banned drug cannabis for enhanced performances during the Games which helped them to win a gold medal each in their respective weight categories. Their gold medals will be withdrawn by the SA Games organizing committee and both are certain to miss the forthcoming Asian Games to be held in Doha Qatar from December 1 to 15.

Kareem and Lassi were involved in a gruelling contest during their respective bouts against the Indian and Nepali opponents who will now receive the gold medals. Two of Sri Lanka's brightest medal prospects T. B. Harshakumara and Indika Kumara both from Slimline BC also had the bitter experience of going down against these two controversial Pakistani boxers during the semi-finals.

In addition both Kareem and Lassi also had the backing of the judges during the entire SA Games as they were completely biased with their decisions which created a huge amount of concern and worry among the local and foreign officials. As a result Pakistan made a clean sweep winning all their finals but not before they had worsened their relations with the host nation and also with their arch rivals India.

Incidentally the Indian coach was the first to show his anger and was so annoyed with the biased decisions of the judges that he did not hesitate to withdraw his competitor during the final bout of the Games.

Both Kareem and Lassi's absence will be a tremendous boost for the Sri Lankan contingent during the up coming Asian Games in Doha Qatar. Sri Lanka who will be competing in the same weight categories are now certain of winning a medal with two of the top contenders out of the scene.

This will be a great opportunity for both T. B. Harshakumara and Indika Kumara to display their true prowess after they had a raw deal during the South Asian Games.

The inquiry committee of the SA Games was headed by Professor Ravindra Fernando and the rest of the members were Dr. Geethanjan Mendis, Dudley Perera and Yohan Fernando. Both Kareem and Lassi accepted that they had used the banned drug and the enquiry committee then handed over the matter to the SA Games disciplinary committee who imposed a six-month ban for each boxer.

The disciplinary committee was headed by Wijedasa Rajapaksa (PC), Dr. Arjuna de Silva and Uditha Egalahewa. Both Kareem and Lassi will not be able to compete in any major event during this period which means they will be also out from the Asian Games in Doha Qatar.

The disciplinary committee's next move will be to inform the matter to the World Body, the International Boxing Federation, Pakistan Boxing Association, World Anti Doping Association and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.