Lankan boxer Manju’s hearing postponed
January 18, 2011 01:51 pm
Allegations of substance abuse by Commonwealth Games gold medalist Manju Wanniarachchi will now be heard in Kuala Lumpur in May. The Commonwealth Games Federation’s hearing involving the Sri Lankan boxer was postponed on Monday.
Wanniarachchi, who won gold in the 56kg division at the Games in New Delhi last October, was to face the GFC court in Kingston, Jamaica. He failed a test for substance abuse at the Games in India.
The federation said illness prevented Wanniarachchi’s lawyer from attending the hearing. It will now be held in Kuala Lumpur in May.
CGF president Michael Fennell said the decision to delay the hearing had not been taken lightly.
“However, under the rules of the CGF’s Anti-Doping Standard and the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code, all athletes are entitled to legal representation at their hearing.
“Consequently the late application for a postponement was agreed,” Fennell said in a statement.
“While the delay is regrettable, it is unavoidable given the circumstances.”
Wanniarachchi’s was among a handful of doping cases at the New Delhi Games.
It included Nigerian sprinters Osayomi Oludamola and Samuel Okon, who tested positive for methylhexaneamine.
Oludamola was stripped of her gold in the women’s 100-meters and Okon, who was sixth in the final of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, was also disqualified, AP reports.
Wanniarachchi, who won gold in the 56kg division at the Games in New Delhi last October, was to face the GFC court in Kingston, Jamaica. He failed a test for substance abuse at the Games in India.
The federation said illness prevented Wanniarachchi’s lawyer from attending the hearing. It will now be held in Kuala Lumpur in May.
CGF president Michael Fennell said the decision to delay the hearing had not been taken lightly.
“However, under the rules of the CGF’s Anti-Doping Standard and the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code, all athletes are entitled to legal representation at their hearing.
“Consequently the late application for a postponement was agreed,” Fennell said in a statement.
“While the delay is regrettable, it is unavoidable given the circumstances.”
Wanniarachchi’s was among a handful of doping cases at the New Delhi Games.
It included Nigerian sprinters Osayomi Oludamola and Samuel Okon, who tested positive for methylhexaneamine.
Oludamola was stripped of her gold in the women’s 100-meters and Okon, who was sixth in the final of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, was also disqualified, AP reports.
