Did ‘they’ knock Manju out of the ring?

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Category: Anti Doping

Published on Sunday, 24 July 2011 00:04

Written by Charit Tissera

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Sri Lankan Boxer Manju Wanniarachchi, whose Gold medal was stripped due to doping charges following his urine sample testing positive, claims that he was told by the authorities not to extend his appeal against the decision arrived by the CGF (Commonwealth Games Federation).

Wanniarachchi, who made the above claim speaking to BBC Sinhala Service last Monday (18), had alleged that the Sri Lanka government had informed him that an appeal would hinder the country's bid to host the Games and hence he was prevented by the authorities, from challenging the decision.

As Manju claims, not only that he lost the only Gold medal Sri Lanka grabbed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but he was prevented from proving his innocence by Sri Lanka’s Sports Ministry.

 

On May 12 ThePapare.com reported, that via a statement issued on May 11, Sri Lanka’s Sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had stood on a different stance to that of Manju’s Legal team. In the above statement the minister had stated “The government of Sri Lanka is a member state of the World Anti DopingAgency (WADA) and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Sri Lanka is also a signatory to three Anti-Doping Conventions and will recognize the above decision” (to strip Wanniarachchi of his gold medal). READ Manju’s lawyers challenge CGF decision while sports minister accepts it!

This statement was issued following CGF’s decision to strip Manju’s gold medal and when the legal team representing Wanniarachchi was seen arguing before the panel headed by the CGF Vice President, Malyasia's Prince Tunku Imran that there had been a breakdown in the chain of custody after a sample was taken and it being transported to the drugs laboratory in Delhi. The team claimed that there had been an alteration in the official documents, when the urine samples were produced.

Senior sports counsel Kalinga Indatissa, who was also a member of Manju’s legal team, via a press release in May had stated, “Mr. C.R. De Silva made submissions before the tribunal and maintained the position that the documentation relating to chain of custody of the samples, from the time it was taken from Mr. Manju Wanniarachchi and until it reached the laboratory, were not properly maintained”.

“He highlighted the fact that “chain of custody” was an integral and imperative requirement under the CGF rules and in this instance  the documents had not been properly maintained. He also invited the attention of the tribunal to the fact that there was an alteration to the seal numbers relating to the samples”. Mr. C.R. De Silva also had demonstrated through 3 witnesses, the bottles carrying the urine samples could be opened within approximately 15 minutes. It was his position that the non-availability of a proper chain of custody documents coupled with the fact that the bottle could be opened raises a serious doubt  on the integrity of the samples in favour of Mr. Wanniarachchi.

However, Minister Aluthgamage had denied the accusations made by the celebrated boxer.

"It is completely false. Neither the government, nor the ministry exerted pressure on him. The medical report clearly shows that that substance was in his body. I have both the police and medical reports” the minister had replied.

Conversely, Manju Wanniarachchi is of the view that he never took such substance in his knowledge. "There was a difference between two samples. And there has been a six-hour gap between the time the samples were given and handed over to the CGF officials," Manju had claimed.

He had also claimed that, he was told through his manager and coach, “"You played for the country, and winning the Games bid is a bigger victory for the country”.

Meanwhile, the CGF state that Manju was given a time frame, in which he could have made an appeal, challenging the decision. As Manju had ‘chosen’ not to challenge the decision he had been found guilty of ‘getting drugged’ and violating WADA regulations.

On May 23, Manju announced his retirement from the game. READ A Disheartened Manju Wanniarachchi, retires!

Manju Wanniarachchi was Sri Lanka’s best hope for an Olympic Gold in 2012 London Olympics.

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