October 24 - Sri Lanka's only gold medalist at this month's Commonwealth Games, boxer Manju Wanniarachchi, has failed a drugs test and could be stripped of his medal and it awarded to WelshmanSean McGoldrick instead , it was revealed today.


New Delhi Commonwealth Games organisers informed Sri Lanka on Saturday that Wanniarachchi, 30, had tested positive for the performance-enhancing steroid nandrolone, an official in Sri Lanka told news agency AFP.

"We were told at the weekend and are hoping to inform the Sports Ministry on Monday and then make a formal announcement," the official said.

"It is possible that the boxer did not know he had taken nandrolone.

"This is something we expect the Sports Ministry to investigate and as things stand, we are not going to challenge the findings of the Commonwealth Games organisers."

The Lakbima News newspaper said organisers had also informed the boxer of the result with his urine A-sample.

Wanniarachchi had beaten 18-year-old McGoldrick (pictured in the final) from Newport in the final of the bantamweight category to clinch the gold and give Sri Lanka its first boxing gold in 72 years.



The boxer can request a B-sample test. If the outcome remains unchanged, he risks being stripped of his gold medal and could face a two-year ban from all competition.

Wanniarachchi would be the fifth competitor to test positive at the Commonwealth Games and the second gold medallist, following Nigeria's Damola Osayemi, who had won the 100 metres but was stripped of the title.

Two other tests also involved Nigerian athletes and another saw an Indian disqualified.

McGoldrick would become Wales' third gold medallist of the Games, joining Dai Greene, who won the 400m hurdles, and Robert Weale, who won the men's singles in lawn bowls.


Related stories
October 2010:
 Third Nigerian athlete tests positive for doping at Commonwealth Games
October 2010: India rocked as home athlete Yadav fails doping test
October 2010: Team faces probe as second Nigerian athlete fails drugs test
October 2010: Women’s 100m champion Oludamola tests positive for banned stimulant
October 2010: Commonwealth Games remain drug free after 500 doping tests