Another Blow for Ashwini: 'B' Sample Tests Positive, May Face Two-year Ban
Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Jul 11: In a yet another major blow to star athlete Ashwini Akkunji, the pride of South Canara who had won gold medals in the last Commonwealth Games and the Asiad, her 'B' samples have also been tested positive.
With this, her dreams of making it to the London Olympics may well be over, as she is faced with a two-year ban.
Along with Ashwini's, the 'B' sampled of another athlete, Priyanka Pawar too tested positive and she too is facing similar fate.
"We have received papers from the NADA that both Ashwini and Priyanka's 'B' samples have tested positive for the same anabolic steroids found in their 'A' sample," Athletics Federation of India director M L Dogra said.
The National Anti-Doping Agency will hold a hearing of the cases before deciding on the ban. For now, the two have been suspended.
If banned for two years, Ashwini will also miss the forthcoming World Championships in Daegue, South Korea for which she has qualified.
Earlier, public sector Corporation Bank having its headquarters in Mangalore, had withdrawn advertisement features involving Ashwini, its brand ambassador. With the 'B' sample also testing postive, Ashwini's services with the bank too hang in balance.