Sri Lankan 400 m sprinter Isuru Lakshan has been officially absolved of doping-related charges filed against him, with the provisional ban imposed on him by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA), also being rescinded.
This was confirmed to The Daily Morning Sports, by the SLADA Director General (DG) Dr. Shiromi Pilapitya.
She stated that a decision to this effect had been reached by the Disciplinary Panel attached to the SLADA, following hearings conducted on 3 June and on 3 July at the National Institute of Sports Science.
She added that the outcome of the hearings had been officially conveyed to the sprinter concerned via its legal team.
Lakshan, a budding athlete was alleged to have evaded SLADA officials during the 400 m selection trials held at the Diyagama Sports Complex five months ago.
However, following an internal inquiry carried out by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, they had determined that SLADA had failed to comply with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) protocols-specifically in notifying the athlete prior to pressing charges of evasion.
The Disciplinary Panel had deemed that SLADA had failed to prove and/or establish to the required standard of proof stipulated in Article 3.1 of the WADA Code.
Hence they had been of the view that there is no case for the athlete in question to answer, and they have opted to exonerate him of the charges filed against him.
The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel’s ruling had been signed by its members Uditha Egalahewa PC, Prof. Rohini Fernandopulle and Dr. Nimal Gunaratne.
The athlete had been represented by Attorney-at-Law Ranil Premathilaka who was supported by Suminda Perera, with Panduka Keerthinanda and Subhani Mallawarachchi appearing for SLADA.
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