New Delhi: Doping in athletics took scandalous proportions with five more athletes, including Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist Sini Jose, flunking the tests conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency.
Jose, top quarter-miler Jauna Murmu, who was also caught for doping earlier, another 400m runner Tiana Mary Thomas, long jumper Hari Krishnan and shot putter Sonia returned positive for anabolic steroids in their 'A' samples.
The samples were taken by NADA during the June 11-14 National Inter-State Athletics Meet in Bangalore.
Jose had won gold in women's 4X400m relay race in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games last year.
Jose, Jauna, Hari Krishnan and Sonia tested positive for metabolites of methandienone while Thomas had another anabolic steroid epimethandiol in her urine sample.
"All five of them have been provisionally suspended by NADA," Athletics Federation of India Director M L Dogra told reporters.
Dogra said that the AFI will look into how so many athletes have tested positive for anabolic steroids.
"The AFI is disappointed at the turn of events. We will look into how so many athletes have tested positive for anabolic steroids. One thing we will look into is whether this happened due to food supplements taken by athletes from outside national camps," he said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, July 01, 2011, 09:19