BHUBANESWAR 22-Nov-2010 158
It is now official. Orissa`s promising international woman athlete Renubala Mahanta has been banned from taking part in domestic and international competitions for two years for violation of anti doping rule. According Athletic Association (OAA) secretary Asirbad Behera the ban will be effective from August 20, 2010.
``The ban order from Athletics Federation of India (AFI) reached us yesterday. It is an unfortunate incident and came as big blow for the blossoming career of a talented athlete,`` Behera said. He blamed the coaches for putting the career of Renubala in jeopardy and admitted the incident was first of its kind in the history of athletics in Orissa. Behera, however, expressed confidence that Renubala would bounce back with vengeance and win laurels again by virtue of her hard work and clean performance.
Renubala, a 19-year-old sprinter and long jumper, underwent dope test during the IAAF World Junior Championships at Moncton (Canada) earlier this year. Prohibited substance Norandrosterone was detected from her `A` sample, which was analysed at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Montreal.
Renubala`s explanation regarding the offence was found inadequate by world governing body and provisional suspension was imposed, pending hearing by AFI. But the Hearing Panel of AFI was not convinced with submission made by the athlete earlier on September 24 and upheld the findings of the Montreal laboratory.
A trainee of Bhubaneswar-based Government Sports Hostel, Renubala won scores of national and international medals during her eight-year-old career. Her international achievements included a long jump silver each in the 1st SAF Athletics Championship at Colombo (Sri Lanka) in 2007 and 14th Asian Junior Athletics Championship at Hanoi, Vietnam earlier thie year.
Renubala, protege of Government athletics coach Rupanwita Panda, accepted the punishment and vowed to prove her mettle once again in a clean manner.
