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Quartermiler Sneha Kolleri and long-distance runner Varsha Tekam have been provisionally suspended for doping violations.
Two Indian atheletes are facing reprimands for doping allegations. (Representative Photo)
Quartermiler Sneha Kolleri, a member of the 4x400m women’s relay team, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for stanozolol. This announcement came a day after she was removed from the Indian squad for the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
In addition to this setback, long-distance runner Varsha Tekam has also faced a provisional suspension for evading a dope test, according to the AIU.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Sneha Kolleri (India) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Stanozolol),” stated the anti-doping watchdog.
Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid known for enhancing performance.
The AIU suspended Varsha for “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete” under Article 2.3.
Last year, Varsha finished second in the Pune Half Marathon with a time of 1:26.22.
Sneha was excluded from the Asian Championships-bound squad, but the national federation did not specify the reason on Sunday. The other members of the 59-strong team have arrived in Gumi for the continental event, which starts on Tuesday.
Sneha underwent an in-competition test at the National Relay Championships in Chandigarh last month, where she had earlier set a personal best in the 400m this year.
She was prevented from boarding her flight for the tournament after the positive test result.
A provisional suspension prevents the athlete from participating in any competition or activity until a final decision is made at a hearing under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.
While training as a national camper in Thiruvananthapuram, Sneha achieved a bronze medal with a personal best time of 53 seconds at the Federation Championships in Kochi. The Kerala athlete also won the 200m gold medal at the Indian Grand Prix-2 in Thiruvananthapuram, defeating Vithya Ramraj.
Sneha also competed as part of the mixed relay team at the World Relays in China earlier this month and was selected for the continental championships for both the women’s and mixed relay teams.
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