Nilani alleges foul play behind positive drug test  

by Reemus Fernando   

National Record holder in the women’s steeplechase, Nilani Ratnayake denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs and alleged that the positive drug result could have been a result of someone with vested interests tampering with her food or drinks to tarnish her image.

“I was shocked when I learnt the result of the positive test.  This has come at a time when I can’t even afford for necessary vitamins,” Ratnayake told The Island.

“I should be mad to take something prohibited at a crucial juncture when I was trying my best to realize my ultimate dream,” said Ratnayake, who was looking forward to competing at the upcoming Asian Championships with medal hopes and improving on her rankings in a bid to earn qualifying standards for next year’s Olympics.

Ratnayake missed the Tokyo Olympics after her rankings dropped due to a lack of top-grade competitions. She was the front-runner among Sri Lanka’s female athletes to secure a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics for a better part of the Olympic year.

She was among several top Sri Lankan athletes to break new ground this year in going for top-grade international competitions on their own expense in a bid to improve world rankings.

Ratnayake was provisionally suspended after a drug test conducted in March found positive for Ligandrol.

“This (positive result) is possible only if someone tampered with my food or drinks. When the first Trial meet was getting closer I started training at Diyagama. I had to keep my bag unattended when I went for training there ahead of the Army meet in March. I suspect that someone must have tampered with my food or drinks to tarnish my image and that of my coach,” said Ratnayake who is now barred from entering athletics venues.

 “Apart from BCAA (a commonly used recovery drink), I don’t take any other recovery drink or supplement. I can’t take protein supplements either.”

Ratnayake was tested on March 31 after she bagged her third title of the Sri Lanka Army Athletics Championships 2023. She was the winner of the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres and her pet event the 3,000 metres steeplechase. She established new meet records at the last two events.

“According to what I have learnt the drug that was found in my sample does not help performances in endurance events. I spent a lot of borrowed money to go for a competition in Japan after the Army meet. Do you think that I would take the risk of going for a foreign competition spending a lot of money if I were on drugs,” queried Ratnayake.

She said that she would not go for a ‘B’ sample test as she does not have the necessary funds.

“Even if I go for a ‘B’ sample test it will be months before I get the results by which time the Asian Championships will be over. What I want now is to face an immediate inquiry,” said Ratnayake.  It is the first time the 32-year-old had been found positive for a banned substance since taking up the sport as a teenager.