GOLD HERO, NOW ZERO

By Champika Fernando

The latest Sri Lankan to bring unprecedented sporting glory to the country at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, boxer Manju Wanniarachchi has fallen from grace in the wake of him having tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone.

Wanniarachchi became the first Sri Lankan boxer to clinch gold in 72 years in the Bantam Weight category during the recently concluded Games in India.

According to informed sources the champion pugilist from Vidyartha College, Kandy had admitted to having injected the banned steroid six months ago having obtained it from a medical practitioner in Kurunegala.

Wanniarachchi who was feted by the president himself upon him being awarded the coveted gold medal during the Commonwealth Games could probably request for a B sample test,

However, if the result of that test also remains the same, he could well be stripped of his prestigious gold medal while facing banishment of upto two-years from international competition.

The 30-year-old beat Welshman Sean McGoldrick in the title bout during the Commonwealth Games after a closely fought contest.

Meanwhile, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) has sent details of Wanniarachchi’s positive drug test to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Nandrolone is a widely used performance-enhancing drug in world sports with several leading sportsmen and women being tested positive in the past.

[Full Coverage]

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow TNN on Facebook and Twitter )

Published
Categorised as News