CAS Increases Indian Athletes’ Ban

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has increased a dope-related ban on six Indian athletes from one year to two years.

CAS posted on its website that it had upheld an appeal by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for stricter punishment. The original year-long ban was decided by Indian authorities.

Asian Games gold medalist Ashwini Akkunji, abortion and team-mates Mandeep Kaur, Sini Jose, Jauna Murmu, Tiana Mary and Priyanka Panwar, tested positive for banned steroids in June 2011.

The CAS statement said the cases were referred to a sole arbitrator, Mark Hovell , who upheld the appeal by the IAAF for two-year bans.

“Mandeep Kaur, Jauna Murmu, Ashwini, Panwar, Mary Thomas and Jose are all declared ineligible for a period of two years starting from the date of the award [17 July 2012],” the statement said.

The ruling came with a provision to reduce the period of suspension already served, meaning the athletes will be eligible for competition from June next year.{jcomments on}