5 Oct 2011

Sri Lanka scraps sports medical unit

7:12 am on 5 October 2011

Sri Lanka has sacked its entire sports medical unit over allegations that staff were linked to banned steroids used by cricketers and national athletes.

The sports Minister has ordered the complete overhaul of the unit following positive tests for cricketer Upul Tharanga, national rugby players and boxers.

Opening batsman Tharanga, 26, was given a three-month ban earlier this year after testing positive for a banned substance.

He claimed he had been unwittingly given the drug by a high-profile Colombo-based faith healer who was reported to have links to the medical unit.