TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Team Goa-India’s Sumit Malik, who won the 400 mts gold in the Men’s 400 metres race has been stripped of his gold medal for violating Lusofonia Games anti-doping rules for illegally participating in the Lusofonia Games 2014 in lieu of provisional suspension imposed by National Anti-Doping Agency, India (NADA).
Malik had been undergoing a provisional suspension with effect from January 7, 2014 which debars him from participation in any international or national event.
As per the anti-doping rules the athlete should have refrained from taking part in this competition. As the athlete has taken part in the Lusofonia Games 2014 keeping the organizing committee in the dark about the above mentioned fact, the Committee has decided to strip off his medal.
The organizing Committee the Games received the information from National Anti-Doping Agency on January 27, 2014 at 7 pm that Sumit Malik, Gold Medalist in the 400 meter event in the Lusofonia Games, Goa 2014 has been served a Notice for Anti-Doping Rule Violation under the NADA’ s Anti Doping Rules 2010.
As informed by NADA, the first notice regarding anti-doping rule violation was served upon Malik at his home address. NADA has further informed that the copy of the first notice was also sent to the Athletics Federation of India.
The results of the 400 mts Men’s final and the overall medal tally will be ratified accordingly.
Speaking to Herald, Paresh Kamat, general secretary of Goa Athletic Association (GAA) said, “We are still unaware of what is happening as the LUGOC has not officially communicated with us. I have got the news from some of the media persons but I cannot comment on this matter until we receive an official statement. We had a list from the Athletic Federation of India on athletes that were banned relating to anti-doping, but Sumit Malik’s name is not in it. If the media has been issued a press release then why has the GAA not received any confirmation”.
