Asian Athletics Championships Gold Medallist fails Dope Test

Gomathi Marimuthu, who won the 800 metres gold at the Asian Athletics Championships last month, was Tuesday handed a provisional suspension after being tested positive for a banned substance. The 'A' sample of the 30-year-old runner from Tamil Nadu, who clocked 2 minute and 2.70 seconds to win the gold on April 22, has returned positive for 19-norandrosterone, a metabolite of nandrolone (an anabolic steroid), in the test conducted during the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha. If her 'B' sample also tests positive, she faces a maximum ban of four years — as this will be her first doping offence — while India will lose a gold medal from the Asian Championships. India had won three gold, seven silver and as many bronze medals in the Asian Championships. International athletics federation's Athletics Integrity Unit tweeted late on Tuesday to confirm Gomathi's dope flunk.