Sprinter Lalit Kumar, who ran solo in the 100m final at the Delhi Athletics Championships in September after seven other competitors pulled out on hearing the presence of NADA officials, has failed a dope test, according to officials. It is learnt that Kumar's urine sample collected after the race on September 26 has returned positive for a banned steroid. Eight runners had qualified for the 100m final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium but seven disappeared apparently after hearing that dope testers from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) were present at the competition venue to take urine samples.
Delhi State Athletics Association president Sunny Joshua said that the committee, which was formed to look into how the seven other runners pulled out of the race, will submit a report in a few days.
"The punishment for the dope offender will be handed by the NADA. But we had formed a committee to look into how the seven other runners had pulled out. The committee will submit its report in two-three days," he said.
"We are considering banning them (seven runners) for two years if they are found to have pulled out of the race without plausible reasons.
"The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had also formed a committee to look into the matter. We (Delhi association) will submit the report to the AFI," Joshua added. PTI PDS AM PDS AM AM