AFI forms internal committee to probe dope scandal

Under fire following the dope flunk of eight athletes, the Athletics Federation of India on Tuesday constituted a three-member internal committee to look into the causes of the scandal.

The committee will have AFI vice-president W I Davaram, former national coach Joginder Saini and Jharkhand Athletics Association president Madhu Kant Pathak as members.

The committee has been asked to start work from July 10 and submit a preliminary report within one month. The final report will have to be submitted within three months from July 10.

"M L Jadam, AFI president, has constituted a high level inquiry committee to look into the findings of anti-doping rule violations by a few athletes while training at national athletics camps in preparation for international competitions," an AFI statement said.

Eight athletes have tested positive for anabolic steroids in the last few days in the worst ever doping scandal in Indian athletics.

Asian Games double gold medallist Ashwini Akkunji, her 4x400 relay gold-winning team-mates Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, Jauna Murmu, Tiana Mary Thomas and Priyanka Panwar were the quartermilers to have flunked dope tests.

Long jumper Hari Krishnan Muralidharan and shot putter Sonia were the other two athletes who have tested positive.

Following the dope scandal, the Sports Minister Ajay Maken sacked Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogrodnik from his post. Yuri has been the coach of women's 400m, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay since 1999.