Rai stripped of Gold for doping at National Games;faces life ban

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) Weightlifter Satish Rai has been stripped of the 85 kg category Gold medal won at Guwahati National Games in February and faces life ban after his 'B' sample, sent at WADA-accredited laboratory in Bangkok, confirmed consumption of banned drug Stanozolol.

Rai was one of nine athletes who were guilty of dope violations during the 33rd Games. While the names of eight athletes were made public last month, Rai name was not disclosed.

IOA's Medical and Anti-Doping Commission chairman Dr Manmohan Singh today identified the ninth athlete as Rai and found him guilty consuming performance enhancing drug.

''The National Doping Control Centre Bangkok has confimed that both 'A' and 'B' samples of Mr Satish Rai are turned out positive for prohibited substance Stanozolol Met 1 (3'-OH-Stanozolol), Stanozolol Met 3 (4B-OH-Stanozolol),'' Dr Singh said in a statement.

''The Indian Olympic Association disqualifies the results obtained by Mr Rai with all consequences including the forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes per rules,'' he added.

The IOA also forwarded his name to Wrestling Federation of India for imposing sanction on him.

It was not the first case of dope violation by veteran Karnataka lifter Rai, who represented Andhra Pradesh in the Games.

Earlier, Rai was stripped of two Gold and a silver medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 having tested positive for a stimulant.

The second offence means he faces a a life ban if WFI decides to impose the most stringent sanction on him.

UNI