Doping on steroids, 2 more fall

The doping controversy just got murkier. Ashwini Akkunji, double gold medallist at last year's Guangzhou Asiad, and Priyanka Pawar, a 400m runner, have tested positive for the banned methandienone, an anabolic steroid.

The doping controversy just got murkier. Ashwini Akkunji, double gold medallist at last year's Guangzhou Asiad, and Priyanka Pawar, a 400m runner, have tested positive for the banned methandienone, an anabolic steroid.

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With Monday’s news, the number of positive cases has gone up to eight. Last week, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, who, with Ashwini, were part of the team that won 4x400m gold at Guangzhou, were among the first to be caught.

Ashwini’s case is more disappointing. She not only had done the country and herself proud by picking up a second gold in the 400m hurdles in China, she was part of the gold-winning 4x400m team in the Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Mandeep and she were among the athletes who had given the country, shamed and angered by a string of scandals in the build-up to the Delhi Games, a reason to cheer. They were the heroes who won India its pride back.