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Sunita's medals not yet stripped, claims IOA
The Indian Olympic Association is yet to receive a communication from the Olympic Council of Asia with regard to stripping of Sunita Rani's medals.
The Indian Olympic Association is yet to receive a communication from the Olympic Council of Asia with regard to stripping of Sunita Rani's medals after the middle distance runner tested positive for banned substance nandrolone.
Jagdish Tytler, India's Chef-de-Mission at Busan, today rubbished reports that Sunita had been stripped of her medals saying the result of the athlete's 'B' sample was still awaited.
"The person who was quoted in the reports was some lab official and he has no authority to speak to the media. The result of 'B' sample is yet to come and so there is no question of Sunita being stripped of her medals," he said at a function organised to felicitate the medal winners here.
Sports Minister Vikram Verma too seemed to be on the defensive. "We have to collect information, finalise a report and then decide on the course of action," he said.
The function itself turned out to be an ill-timed one with Sunita, conspicuously absent, being the topic of discussion.
Rani won the gold in the 1500m and bronze in the 5000m but tested positive after both the races. As it were, the evening wore a sombre atmosphere instead of a festive mood which should have prevailed with the Indian contingent putting up one of its best performance in recent history of the Asian Games, capturing 11 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.
Officials concerned were having a difficult time fending off questions on doping from all quarters.
