Taking banned drug:

Walpola admits

Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka ruggerite Anuranga Walpola has admitted taking a banned substance – Tetra Hydro Canabinol Carboxylic Acid (Cannabis) a few days before the Clifford Cup semi-final against Air Force at an inquiry conducted by the SLRFU yesterday.

Walpola had confessed that he had eaten a piece of cake at a party a few days before the semi-final at Bogambara on July 24 which would here contained the banned drug at the inquiry at which the Chairman of the National Anti-Doping Organisation Dr. Githanjan Mendis, Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema of the Sports Medicine Unit and Acting Secretary of the SLRFU Kiran Atapattu were present.

Four players – two each from Kandy SC and Air Force were tested for doping before the semi-final of which only Walpola tested positive after the samples were tested by a laboratory in India. The disciplinary committee of the SLRFU headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera will meet at the SLRFU Headquarters today to impose sanctions on Walpola.

Walpola a fine hooker and terrific player in the loose has been turning out for Kandy SC since 2008 having crossed over from CR and FC after having represented the Longden Place Club from 2003 to 2007.

He has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka team from 2006 Sri Lanka flanker Kasun de Silva tested positive for taking a banned drug during the Rugby Asiad in Colombo in November, 2007 and was banned for one year by the SLRFU.

According to the Rugby Chairman of Kandy SC Lasantha Wijesuriya the club had decided to suspend Walpola at a disciplinary committee meeting on August 27 till the inquiry against him was completed.