Sunita Rani likely to be cleared of dope charges

Middle distance runner Sunita Rani, who was stripped of the medals she won at the Busan Asian Games, may get a reprieve, with the medical commission of the International Olympic Committee reportedly clearing her of doping charges.

Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh said on Thursday he has come to know that the report of the medical commission is "favourable to us", official intimation of which from the IOC is expected soon.

"A sub-committee of IOC's medical commission met in the second week of this month and discussed Sunita Rani's case," Randhir Singh, who is also the secretary-general of Olympic Council of Asia, said over phone from Hyderabad.

"I have learnt that their report is favourable to us. That report is supposed to be faxed to us and also to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) soon," he added

Rani, who won the gold medal in women's 1500 metres with a new Games record and also a bronze in the 5,000 metres at the Busan Games, tested positive for banned substance nandrolone and subsequently stripped of her medals.

The Amateur Athletic Federation of India strongly defended the athlete, who had cleared dope tests in New Delhi before leaving for Busan. The AAFI decided to appeal against the findings of the dopes tests, claiming procedures in the Seoul laboratory were not foolproof.

An internal inquiry ordered by AAFI had also found fault with the testing procedures in Seoul and concluded that based on the evidence available, Rani could not be held guilty.