Commonwealth Games gold medal winner fails dope test

India's quarter-miler female runners Mandeep Kaur and Juana Murmu have been suspended for testing positive for anabolic agents in an out-of-competition test conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

ML Dogra, director of Athletics Association of India (AAI), told IANS that the two athletes were tested May 25 by IAAF out of competition. Their B sample, which was opened Monday, also tested positive.

Mandeep, who won the 400m relay gold in the Commonwealth and the Asian Games, tested positive for methandienone and stanozolol while Juana, who missed a podium finish in the 400 metres in the Asian Games, tested positive for methandienone.

Both substances fall in the category of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) in WADA's prohibited list. Stanozolol is one of the oldest anabolic agents since American sprinter Ben Johnson took it in 1988.

"The two athletes were on World Anti Doping Agency's (WADA) whereabouts list and the tests were done randomly. Their B sample has also tested positive and they have been suspended," Dogra said.

Dogra said the disciplinary committee of the IAAF will meet next month to decide on the quantum of the bans to be imposed on the two athletes.