AASL ban Jani Chathurangi

BANNED: The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) yesterday imposed an indefinite provisional suspension on controversial woman sprinter Jani Chathurangi Silva, who was tested positive for banned performance enhancing drugs during the 10th South Asian Games in Colombo last year.

The AASL was forced to take this decision after the world governing body - the IAAF, warned them twice on the matter. After an initial warning by the IAAF last month, the AASL did not impose a provisional suspension on Silva.

But in a hard hitting four-page letter to the AASL last week, the IAAF warned the local body and asked them to ban the athlete immediately, or face consequences.

The IAAF, in its second letter to the AASL, accused the local track and field governing body on its "reluctance" to impose a ban. The IAAF said they would be compelled to ban the athlete, if the AASL fail to take immediate action.

The local arbitration process would now be handled by a five-member committee, headed by former AASL chief Sunil Jayaweera.

The other members of the committee are Daya de Mel, N. A. T. Jayasinghe, K. G. Badra Gunawardena and AASL Vice President Prema Pinnawale.

The South Asian Games double medallist, who was twice tested positive for a high concentration of Nandralone 19, has been summoned by the AASL committee on February 26.

The committee has also requested the Head of the Sports Medicine Institute, Dr. Geethanjana Mendis to give evidence on February 28.

Though the Medical Commission of the SA Games, headed by Prof. Ravindra Fernando, found Silva guilty of taking banned steroids, the Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Wijayadasa Rajapakshe cleared the athlete completely - a decision challenged by the IAAF.