Indian boxer is hopeful as Sri Lankan pugilist who won the gold in Kumar’s category tests positive
Will India’s Commonwealth Games medals tally swell further? Yes, no, maybe? Here’s the story. Bantamweight boxer and Sri Lanka’s first-ever gold medallist Manju Wanniarachchi tested positive for a banned steroid according to a report on Sunday.
Apparently, Commonwealth Games organisers sent a report to Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee and informed the boxer of the result with his urine ‘A’ sample.
Wanniarachchi had beaten Welshman Sean McGoldrick in the gold medal bout. The boxer has a choice to request a ‘B’ sample test. But if the outcome remains unchanged, he risks being stripped of his medal adding to which he could be banned for two years from all competitions.
In that scenario, the Welshman McGoldrick stands to win the gold, semifinalists Louis Julie of Mauritius and Tirafolo Seoko of Botswana will be promoted to silver. With that logic, Akhil Kumar who lost to Julie in quarters should be promoted to bronze. Louis moved to the last four only after beating Akhil in the quarters.
The question arises why not a medal to the other three quarterfinalists along with Akhil? Well, the new gold medallist McGoldrick entered the final after beating Julie in the semis who had beaten Akhil to move to semis. “A very similar case happened in the National Games in 2006 at Guwahati and the same logic was applied then, therefore, Akhil stands to win the bronze,” explained national coach Jaidev Bisht.
The coach said the rule in such a scenario is silent and it can be moulded according to the organisers. Even Kumar is hopeful to add to his and the country’s tally. But Col PK Muralidhar Raja, secretary general of Indian Boxing Federation has a different story to tell. “One cannot follow the line and draw of the new gold medallist. It is Manju’s line and pool which should get the benefit since Manju is the culprit. Akhil doesn’t fall in that line so I don’t think it is possible,” Raja told DNA.
Raja said that technically there cannot be two silver medallists in boxing. Seoko, who lost to Wanniarachchi can have the first claim to silver since without beating him, the Lankan wouldn’t have advanced further,” Raja said. The gen-sec also explained that the time when his, eventually failed sample, test was conducted should also be considered. “For instance, if it is his semifinal sample which has tested positive then more confusion will be created,” Raja said.
Raja said the final decision is up to the CWG organisers. But Kumar, who is not a part of the Asian Games squad, is still hopeful.
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