The Hindu : Sport : AFI panel exonerates Neelam Singh

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Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

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Sport - Sports : General

AFI panel exonerates Neelam Singh

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The disciplinary panel of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has exonerated discus thrower Neelam J. Singh who was charged with a dope positive at the World championships in Helsinki last August. The decision has been conveyed to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Neelam was provisionally suspended by the IAAF following a positive test for the stimulant, pemoline, after the women's discus qualification round on August 7 last year.

The Davaram committee, which heard Neelam, went through a drawn-out procedure for over six months before deciding to give a verdict of "not guilty" giving the "benefit of doubt" to the Punjab athlete apparently in view of the procedural lapses pointed out by her counsel Sushil Salwan.

The IAAF Doping Review Board will now examine the decision given by the AFI panel. "The IAAF has 30 days in which to appeal the case to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) if, following the review, the IAAF decides that the decision is wrong," an IAAF spokesman informed The Hindu from Monaco.

"The decision to refer to CAS will be taken by the Doping Review Board in accordance with IAAF rules," the spokesman stated. Asked about the IAAF's earlier decision to make a reference to the Council meeting in Osaka at the end of this month about the delay on the part of AFI, the spokesman said: "We will still be making a report and general comments about the issue of member federations' compliance with the IAAF anti-doping rules, and their assistance in anti-doping issues. This case remains an example which can be used to highlight this serious issue."

It is no secret that the IAAF was unhappy with the lack of progress in the Neelam case and had written to the AFI to speed up the procedures.

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