26 Oct 2010

Sri Lankan boxer has two weeks to clear name of doping

6:18 am on 26 October 2010

Sri Lankan sports chiefs have confiscated the gold medal won by boxer Manju Wanniarachchi at this month's Commonwealth Games and gave him two weeks to answer doping charges.

Wanniarachchi, Sri Lanka's only gold winner at the Games, tested positive for the performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone, according to a report sent to Colombo over the weekend by organisers of the New Delhi Games.

The boxer faces a two-year ban and will be stripped of his medal if his B test also proves positive.

Wanniarachchi claims he may have unknowingly taken the banned steroid when he consulted a physician several months ago.

A sports ministry official said their probe will extend to the physician who treated Wanniarachchi.

Police had already interviewed the physician, a police source said, adding that investigations were under way.

Wanniarachchi beat Welshman Sean McGoldrick in the bantamweight 56 kilogram category to clinch gold.