The high-profile doping scandal that hit Indian athletics earlier this year, took a decisive turn on Friday when six track and field stars were handed one-year bans by a disciplinary panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency ( NADA).
With the bans, quartermilers - Ashwini Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Mandeep Kaur, Priyanka Panwar, Sini Jose and Tiana Mary Thomas - have effectively been ruled out of the 2012 Olympics, ending India's hopes of a medal in the 4x400 women's relay at the London Games.
The ban comes into effect retrospectively from the date the athletes tested positive. That gives only Mandeep and Murmu a chance of making it to the last Olympic selection trials - the inter-state meet - to be held from June 24 to 27, 2012. Jose and Tiana too can technically still qualify for the London Games, but their chances are extremely dim.
The chief culprit, according to the findings, is Yuri Ogorodnik, the SAI-appointed Ukrainian coach at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. The batch of the stimulant ginseng he administered to the athletes was found to be 'contaminated' with banned substances.
The quantum of punishment in what is the biggest scandal in Indian track and field comes as a surprise as the ban for first-time offenders as per World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA) regulations is normally two years (second-time violators are banned for life). Advocate Dinesh Dayal who headed the NADA-instituted panel, handed a reduced sentence since he considered the athletes were not significantly at fault.
"The athletes have been able to establish how the prohibited substance entered their body and that they bear no significant fault or negligence and are entitled a reduction in the period of ineligibility under Article 10.5.2 of the rules," the report said.
Mandeep Kaur reacted to the ban by putting up a brave front. "I have not given up hope. After enduring the worst period of my life I feel I have come out stronger. I have one or two chances left and I want to make them count," she said.
The panel, which also comprised former hockey Olympian Ashok Kumar and Dr NK Khadiya, also banned long-jumper Harikrishanan Muraleedharan for two years after finding anabolic steroids in his samples.
The athletes can appeal against the ban in NADA's appellate authority within two weeks.
The ban would come into effect from the date the athletes were suspended following the doping violations earlier this year.
Murmu and Mandeep were suspended on June 23, Jose and Tiana on June 30, and Akkunji and Panwar on July 4. Their ban would have ended by the time the Olympics begin in London, on July 27.
That, however, does not entitle them for participation in the mega event since barring Mandeep and Murmu, the others would be still serving the ban when the Athletic Association of India (AAI) conducts its last event for selection of athletes for the Olympics at the inter-state meet in Hyderabad from June 24-27, 2012.
According to sources, the AFI was not clear whether Mandeep and Murmu would be fielded in Hyderabad even if their ban would have ended. "I can't say. We will be fielding our best available athletes," he said.
With the bans, quartermilers - Ashwini Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Mandeep Kaur, Priyanka Panwar, Sini Jose and Tiana Mary Thomas - have effectively been ruled out of the 2012 Olympics, ending India's hopes of a medal in the 4x400 women's relay at the London Games.
The ban comes into effect retrospectively from the date the athletes tested positive. That gives only Mandeep and Murmu a chance of making it to the last Olympic selection trials - the inter-state meet - to be held from June 24 to 27, 2012. Jose and Tiana too can technically still qualify for the London Games, but their chances are extremely dim.
The chief culprit, according to the findings, is Yuri Ogorodnik, the SAI-appointed Ukrainian coach at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. The batch of the stimulant ginseng he administered to the athletes was found to be 'contaminated' with banned substances.
The quantum of punishment in what is the biggest scandal in Indian track and field comes as a surprise as the ban for first-time offenders as per World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA) regulations is normally two years (second-time violators are banned for life). Advocate Dinesh Dayal who headed the NADA-instituted panel, handed a reduced sentence since he considered the athletes were not significantly at fault.
"The athletes have been able to establish how the prohibited substance entered their body and that they bear no significant fault or negligence and are entitled a reduction in the period of ineligibility under Article 10.5.2 of the rules," the report said.
Mandeep Kaur reacted to the ban by putting up a brave front. "I have not given up hope. After enduring the worst period of my life I feel I have come out stronger. I have one or two chances left and I want to make them count," she said.
The panel, which also comprised former hockey Olympian Ashok Kumar and Dr NK Khadiya, also banned long-jumper Harikrishanan Muraleedharan for two years after finding anabolic steroids in his samples.
The athletes can appeal against the ban in NADA's appellate authority within two weeks.
The ban would come into effect from the date the athletes were suspended following the doping violations earlier this year.
Murmu and Mandeep were suspended on June 23, Jose and Tiana on June 30, and Akkunji and Panwar on July 4. Their ban would have ended by the time the Olympics begin in London, on July 27.
That, however, does not entitle them for participation in the mega event since barring Mandeep and Murmu, the others would be still serving the ban when the Athletic Association of India (AAI) conducts its last event for selection of athletes for the Olympics at the inter-state meet in Hyderabad from June 24-27, 2012.
According to sources, the AFI was not clear whether Mandeep and Murmu would be fielded in Hyderabad even if their ban would have ended. "I can't say. We will be fielding our best available athletes," he said.
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