The Indian contingent for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) has been hit with a massive jolt after sprinter Dhanalakshmi and triple jumper Aishwarya Babu both failed dope tests, according to sources in the know of things.
Dhanalakshmi is in the CWG team for the 100m and the 4x100m relay events and failed a test that was conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Meanwhile, Babu's Test was done by the NADA. Her sample was taken during the National Inter-State Championships, with her test also returning as positive.
Both the athletes have been ruled out of the upcoming Birmingham Games to be held from July 28 to August 8 and have been handed provisional suspensions. "Dhanalakshmi tested positive in a dope test conducted by AIU. She will not go for Birmingham CWG," a top source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Dhanalakshmi was to race alongside the likes of Dutee Chand, Hima Das and Srabani Nanda. She was also named in the Indian team for the ongoing World Championships in Eugene, USA, but failed to make it to the showpiece, ostensibly due to visa problems.
Dhanalakshmi had recorded a personal best time of 22.89 seconds to win 200m gold at the Qosanov Memorial Athletics Meet on June 26. She became only the third Indian woman to run sub-23s after national record holder Saraswati Saha (22.82s) and Hima Das (22.88s).
The 24-year-old Aishwarya's dope sample, taken by the NADA officials during the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai last month, has also returned a positive result. She was named for the triple jump and long jump events in the Indian athletics team for the CWG. "Triple jumper Aishwarya Babu's sample, taken during the National Inter-State Championships, has returned positive," the source said.
Aishwarya had smashed the triple jump national record with a stunning effort of 14.14m to emerge the undisputed star of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships (June 10-14) in Chennai. She had produced a 6.73m effort in long jump qualification round during the Chennai event. That was the second longest personal best by an Indian woman long jumper after legendary Anju Bobby George (6.83m).
