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Chanu fails B sample test,faces life ban

By Anoop Kumar | PUBLISHED: 15, Sep 2010, 13:25 pm IST | UPDATED: 15, Sep 2010, 13:29 pm IST

Chanu fails B sample test,faces life ban New Delhi: Dope-tainted weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu is facing a life ban after her 'B' sample also tested positive for a banned stimulant during tests conducted by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA).

Chanu's 'A' sample, which was taken during the trials for the Commonwealth Games here last month, had tested positive for the banned substance methylhexaneamine and now her 'B' sample has also tested positive for the same stimulant.

Interestingly, this is the same banned substance which was in the centre of a controversy recently with as many as 11 Indian athletes, including several CWG hopefuls, failing dope tests for taking the stimulant as a dietary supplement.

For Chanu - an Arjuna Award winner in 2000 - this was her second such offence after failing a dope test during the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The former Asian champion and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games gold medallist had tested positive for a diuretic at the Athens Olympics and was handed a two-year ban.

The 31-year-old Manipuri, who returned to action last year after serving the ban, was included in the CWG Core Group of lifters in August but failed to make it to the Commonwealth Games squad as she finished last in a three-woman field in the 53kg category trials here last month, with a total lift of 172 kg.

''Chanu's 'B' sample had also come out to be positive for methylhexaneamine. We have sent the notice to Chanu and Indian Weightlifting Federation. We will fix a date for her if she wants to appear before the NADA disciplinary panel,'' NADA director general Rahul Bhatnagar said.

However, the dope flunk came just days after Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) paid the entire five lakh dollar fine to the international body. The fine was slapped on the Indian federation after six of its lifters failed dope tests conducted by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) last September.

The respite came to IWLF only after the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee gave an interest-free loan of Rs 1.75 crore to the federation in order to pay the remaining two installments of the fine by August 31.

By virtue of this, Indian lifters were also allowed to take part in Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to be held here next month.

Meanwhile, Bhatnagar informed that a team of WADA officials visited the National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala where Commonwealth Games-bound boxers, weightlifters, wrestlers and athletes are camping and had taken 20 samples there last weekend.

''A WADA team came down to Patiala during the weekend and they had taken 20 samples. WADA people visit the country once in a year and since Commonwealth Games in being held here they might have just thought of coming here at this time,'' the NADA director general added.
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