CWG: Indian athlete fails dope test, medal tally at 91 (Afternoon Lead)

NEW DELHI - Dope scandal hit the Indian contingent Wednesday, ahead of the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games Thursday, making it the third case at the Delhi Games.

Rani Yadav, who participated in the 20-km walk, has tested positive for banned anabolic agent 19-Norandrosterone, the Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed Wednesday. The 20-year-old, who finished sixth in the competition Saturday, has provisionally been suspended pending hearing later today.

“I regret to say that we have another positive result,” said the Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell.

It is the third positive test of the Games, Nigerian sprinter and women’s 100m champion, Oludamola Osayomi, and her team-mate, the 110m hurdler Samuel Okon being the other two. Both tested positive for using the banned stimulant Methylexaneamine.

Osayomi has been stripped of her gold medal, and all her results in the Games nullified.

“We got the reports of the doping test late last (Tuesday) night, but the Indian chef-de-mission was informed in writing only this morning” Fennell said.

The third dope case came into light on a day when 28 medals in Aquatics (2), Boxing (10), Cycling Road (2), Gymnastics Rhythmic (1), Hockey (1), Lawn Bowls (2), Shooting (4), Squash (3) and Table Tennis (2), Badminton (1) are to be decided.

At 1300 hours Wednesday India had 91 medals, its highest tally in the Games, with 32 gold, 26 silver and 33 bronze. Australia lead the table with 154 medals with 68 gold, 45 silver and 41 bronze. England with 30 gold, 50 silver and 42 bronze for a total of 122 medals remained in the third spot.

Indians began on a winning note Wednesday with Sharath Kamal and Subhajit Saha scoring a thrilling 3-2 win over Englishmen Liam Pitchford and Andrew Baggaley in the semi-finals of the men’s table tennis doubles competition.

Sharath and Saha, the top seeds in the tournament, beat Pitchford and Baggaley 11-13, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6.