The Olympic dreams of seven top Indian athletes, including Asian Games double gold medallist Ashwini Akkunji, is virtually over with a three-member National Anti-Doping Agency hearing panel on Monday imposing bans on them for flunking dope tests.
The panel handed a one-year ban each on six women quarter-milers, while long jumper Harikrishnan Muralidha-ran was banned for two years for failing his dope test earlier this year.
The others banned are Jauna Murmu, Mandeep Kaur, Priyanka Panwar, Sini Jose and Mary Thomas. All failed dope tests for methanedienone, while Mandeep and Murmu tested positive for the steroid stanonzol too.
While the athletes faced a two-year ban, their contention of “no fault” or “negligence” was taken into account.
While London dreams have been dashed for golden girl Ashwini Akkunji, 23, she is still hoping that her Olympic aspirations are still a reality. Speaking exclusively to this newspaper, she said: I knew for a while that London... was not a possibility, but my career doesn’t end there. I have immense faith in myself. I have spoken and believed in my innocence, and the verdict today endorses that. I have been training through my ban period, and I will continue to train.”
Nada panel chief Dinesh Dayal said as there was no evidence the six had taken the banned substances intentionally, their suspension was reduced. “Two athletes — Mary Tiana Thomas and Jauna Murmu — were tested twice in May and June and they cannot be held guilty on two counts,” Mr Dayal added.
With the Olympics qualification period ending on July 2 (individual) and July 8 (relay), the six women 400m runners are unlikely to qualify for the July 27-August 12 London Games.
All of them had failed tests in either June or July and their bans would commence from the dates of provisional suspension imposed by Nada.