Sri Lankan boxer loses Commonwealth gold medal over failed drug test

May 9, 2011 | Sports | Written by

London, May 9: Sri Lankan boxer Manju Wanniarachchi has lost his 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medal after he failed a drugs test.

Wanniarachchi’s gold medal was his country’s first in boxing in 72 years and he was hailed as a national hero when he returned home.

The 31-year-old carried out an anti-doping test during last October’s Games and his sample was found to contain 19-Norandrosterone, a prohibited anabolic agent under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) list of prohibited substances.

Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Mahindananda Alutgamage said that an internal investigation had concluded that Wanniarachchi had taken the drug inadvertently.

“However, based on the report, we banned him from boxing,” the BBC quoted Alutgamage, as saying.

The minister added that the case would not have any negative impact on Sri Lanka’s bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“We are very confident of getting the opportunity to host the 2018 Games,” Alutgamage added.

Welsh boxer Sean McGoldrick will be awarded a belated Commonwealth gold medal following Wanniarachchi disqualification. (ANI)