By Dhammika Ratnaweera
The Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) imposed a temporary ban on Sri Lankan 400m athlete Kalinga Kumarage for alleged use of prohibited drugs.
Director General of the SLADA Seewali Jayawickrema said that the medical tests were done in New Delhi, India after they had collected urine samples of athletes on a random basis. Initial medical tests had proved that Kalinga had used a banned substance called Anabolic Androgenic steroid while competing in the Men’s 200m and 400m events at the Sri Lanka Army Athletics Meet held in October at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“Kalinga could now provide his urine ‘B’ sample for further medical tests but he will need to bear all costs for this exercise”, said the Head of the SLADA. Dr Jayawickrma also pointed out if the athlete wanted to do the B’ sample test we can do and its easily do from the same New Delhi Laboratory. They did the A’ sample test and after athlete request, they can do the same test for a B sample. The urine ‘B’ sample would cost approximately US$ 200.
Kalinga Kumarage had represented the country in several major international events and was a member of the Sri Lankan contingent which won a Silver Medal at the Asian Senior Track and Field Meet held in India in 2017. He also selected for the 400m finals and also a key member of the 400×4 relay team which won the fourth place at the recently concluded Asian Games in Jakarta.
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