AAFI clears Sunita Rani of doping charges

The Amateur Athletic Federation of India has cleared Sunita Rani of doping charges and decided to challenge the Olympic Council of Asia's decision to strip her of her medals at the Busan Asian Games.

The one-man inquiry commission of AIFF vice-president Sushil Salwan said on Monday that Rani did not take any banned substances to boost her performance.

The AAFI has thus decided to take up the issue with International Amateur Athletic Federation, AAFI president Suresh Kalmadi informed.

"We will fight till the end to ensure that Sunita Rani is not punished," he added.

Kalmadi said the Salwan commission, which submitted a 200-page report to the AAFI, had found "basic discrepancies" in the test results, particularly in the amount of nandrolone in the 'A' and 'B' samples after the athlete's 1500 metres race at the Asian Games.

He said Salwan recommended that the AAFI request the IAAF to conduct a fresh test of Sunita Rani's 'B' sample, which was taken in Patiala on September 30 before she left for Busan.

"Her 'A' sample was negative and the 'B' sample is still lying with the Sports Authority of India," Kalmadi said. "The test should be done at an International Olympic Association accredited lab."

Salwan said Rani could not be held guilty on the basis of the facts that were present before him. "But she will have to clear a few tests recommended by me to be fully absolved of the charges.

"For a start, her appeal at the IAAF would have to be entertained," he added.

Rani's fight to prove her innocence received a shot in the arm after "huge discrepancies" in the amount of the banned substance, nandrolone, were detected in her 'A' and 'B' samples, tested during the Asian Games in Busan.

The 22-year-old middle distance runner was stripped of her gold and bronze medals after she tested positive for nandrolone during the Games. The athlete vehemently denies having taken any performance-enhancing drugs.

According to a news report, the results of the 'A' sample, taken after the 1500 metres run, showed nandrolone at 21 nanograms per millilitre whereas in the 'B' sample it was six.

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