Walpola banned for one year

Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka ruggerite Anuranga Walpola who tested positive for a banned drug Tetra Hydro Cannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Cannabis) was banned for one year from all sports with effect from August 31, 2010.

Walpola who appeared before the disciplinary committee of the National Anti-Doping Organization comprising Dr Maiya Gunasekera (Chairman) and Professor Rohini Fernandopulle at the Institute of Sports Medicine yesterday admitted that he had eaten a piece of cake and cookies at a party held at a residence in Colombo 3 a few days before the Clifford Cup semi-final against Air Force. The committee decided to ban Walpola for a period of one year from all sports having tested positive for a drug which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Association.

Also present at yesterday’s meeting were the Acting Secretary of the SLRFU Kiran Atapattu, Chairman of National Anti-Doping Organization Dr Geethanjan Mendis and Dr Seevali Jayawickrema.

Urine samples of four players two each from Kandy and Air Force were taken by NADO before the Clifford Cup semi-final between Air Force and Kandy SC on July 24 at Bogambara at the request of the SLRFU and were sent for testing to a laboratory in India.

Thus Walpola becomes the second Sri Lanka ruggerite to be banned for taking a banned drug.

Sri Lanka flanker Kasun de Silva was banned for one year for the same offence in 2007.

Urine samples from three Sri Lankan ruggerites were taken during the Singer Rugby Asiad in November, 2007 for testing at a laboratory in Malaysia and Kasun de Silva who tested positive was imposed a one-year ban.