Himasha not available for inquiry due to personal reasons  

Himasha’s doping suspension  

by Reemus Fernando  

Sprinter Himasha Eshan, who was found positive for a banned substance recently, has informed a disciplinary committee of his inability to appear before them due to a personal reason, informed sources told The Island yesterday.

It was the second time that the former national record holder of the men’s 100 metres has sought a fresh date to appear before the disciplinary committee since being informed of the positive result.

The South Asian Games medallist was suspended early last month from track and field activities after being found positive for a banned substance during a random test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Authority (SLADA).

The SLADA informed the athlete early this month that his ‘A’ sample test ‘has indicated an adverse analytical finding and he has been found positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid norandrosterone.’

He was supposed to appear before the disciplinary committee for an initial inquiry at the SLADA headquarters on December 15. He had informed authorities of his unavailability on that date as he was not in the country. The disciplinary committee had then requested him to appear before them on December 31.

“He has informed the committee of his inability to be present due to a personal reason. The committee will announce a fresh date for him to appear,” a source close to SLADA told The Island yesterday.

Anti-Doping authorities collected the 26-year-old’s urine samples at the Army quarters at Narahenpita on the final day of the Army Athletics Championships where he was involved in record breaking feats for his regiment. He was part of the Medley Relay team that established a new meet record and also ran a wind assisted 10.29 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres during the November event.

Sources said that the athlete coached by Chaminda Perera was still eligible to request a ‘B’ sample test.