CWG,Asiad gold winner Mandeep fails dope test

Juanas had epimethandiol and metabolites of methandienone.

Two of the countrys top middle distance athletes Mandeep Singh and Juana Murmu were provisionally suspended by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday after they tested positive for banned substances. The action came after urine samples of the runners,collected by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) during an out-of-competition surprise test at Patiala,showed traces of anabolic steroids.

Twenty-three-year-old Mandeeps stunning runs on the home stretch of the womens 4×400 m relay saw India win golds at the Guangzhou Asiad and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year.

Juana,20,has been in Indias core group of promising young middle distance runners,and had narrowly missed bronze in the 400 m race at Guangzhou.

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AFI director Manohar Lal Dogra said Mandeeps urine sample had adverse analytical findings for epimethandiol,metabolites of methandienone and stanozolol. Juanas had epimethandiol and metabolites of methandienone.

They will not be part of any national team or camp, Dogra said.

Experts say the presence of several banned substance in one sample often suggests a major offence. The fact that an athlete has tested positive for three anabolic steriods indicates that systematic doping has been going on, said P S M Chandran,former director,sports medicine,SAI,and president,Indian Federation of Sports Medicine.

Mandeep denied doping. I just have to say that I am innocent. Why would I do it? I have got golds in CWG and Asian Games. I was not even scheduled to take part in any event this year, Mandeep said.

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We have told the AFI officials that the supplements we take during training were adulterated, she said.

This is the defence that the athletes are expected to put up at the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) hearing which will now follow. This being the first offence for both,it is possible that they might be handed punishment ranging from a warning to a two-year ban.