Dope tainted athlete Ashwini Akkunji's London Olympics dreams are virtually over as her 'B' sample also tested positive for anabolic steroids. She now faces the prospect of a two-year ban for her offence. Another quartermiler Priyanka Panwar's 'B' sample also tested positive for anabolic steroids. Ashwini and Priyanka had their 'B' samples tested on Thursday at the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi and the results, which came today, confirmed the presence of methandionone in them. Athletics Federation of India Director M L Dogra told PTI that they have received papers from the NADA that both Ashwini and Priyanka's 'B' samples have tested positive for the same anabolic steroids found in their 'A' sample. Both have been provisionally suspended by the AFI pending the decision by the NADA panel. The maximum punishment if found guilty is a two-year ban as both committed their first dope offence. This would make Ashwini, double gold medallist in the Asian Games, virtually out of contention for a 2012 Olympics berth. She is yet to qualify for the London Olympics. She will also miss the August 27-September 4 World Championships in Daegue, South Korea, though she has qualified for the event in 400 metre hurdles.
News On AIR | July 11, 2011 9:11 PM