New Delhi: Quartermiler Sneha Kolleri has been dropped from the Asian Championships-bound Indian team after the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended her for a failed dope test.
She was part of India’s 4x400m women’s relay squad but was dropped from the contingent that flew to Gumi, South Korea once her urine sample returned positive for performance-enhancing anabolic steroid stanozolol.
The AIU also placed long distance runner Varsha Tekam under provisional suspension for not appearing for a dope test.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Sneha Kolleri (India) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Stanozolol),” the anti-doping watchdog said, adding that Varsha was suspended for “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete” under Article 2.3.
The Athletics Federation of India had to exclude Sneha from its 59-member strong contingent that begins on Tuesday. The AFI initially didn’t offer an explanation for dropping Sneha at the 11th hour.
Earlier in the year, she had registered a a personal best timing in the 400m and last month underwent an in-competition test at the National Relay championships in Chandigarh.
Sneha was prevented from boarding the flight to Gumi even as rest of the six-member relay team reached the South Korean city.
She claimed bronze with a personal best timing of at the Federation championships in Kochi and won the 200m gold medal at the Indian Grand Prix-2 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Earlier in May, she was included in the mixed relay team at the World Relays in China and in the women’s and mixed relay teams for the continental championships.
Varsha had finished second at the Pune Half Marathon last year with a time of 1:26.22 seconds.
Under World Athletics’ anti-doping rules, an athlete placed under provisional suspension isn’t permitted to participate in any competition until a final decision is made after a hearing.
Quartermiler Sneha Kolleri and long distance runner Varsha Tekam were placed under provisional suspensions for failed dope tests. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
