CGF confirms dope flunk of Sri Lankan boxer

New Delhi: Commonwealth Games Federation on Monday confirmed that Sri Lankan boxer Manju Wanniarachchi, who won gold in bantamweight category, tested positive for a banned substance during the CWG here. Wanniarachchi tested positive for anabolic agent 19-Norandrosterone to become the fifth athlete to fail a dope test after Nigerian trio of Samuel Okon, Damola Osayemi and Folashade Abugan and Indian Rani Yadav. "Sri Lankan boxer Manju Wanniarachchi has been named as the fifth athlete to return an adverse analytical finding from anti-doping tests conducted during the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi," CGF said in a statement. "The A sample of Wanniarachchi, who took the gold medal in the bantamweight competition on October 13, was found to contain 19-Norandrosterone, a prohibited Anabolic Agent under category S1 of the WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods," the statement said. "In accordance with CGF Anti Doping Standard, Wanniarachchi has been notified of the finding through the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games Association. The athlete now has until November 4th to respond to the finding, after which the formal Hearing Process will commence," it said. Yesterday, privately run `Lakbima News` newspaper reported that 30-year-old Wanniarachchi, who had brought home the island`s first Commonwealth boxing gold in 72 years, had tested positive for the performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone. 110m hurdler Okon and Osayemi, who was stripped of her gold in the women`s 100m, and 20km race walker Yadav tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine. Abugan tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid and she was also stripped off her women`s 400m and 4x400m relay silver medals. PTI