Jani to face inquiry in Switzerland

By S.R. Pathiravithana

International Olympic Committee’s Court of Arbitration for Sports has called up Sri Lanka’s female athlete Jani Chathurangi de Silva for the preliminary hearing on February 29, at the Chateau de Thusy, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Attorney-at-law Naveen Pilapitiya will appear for Jani Chathurangi at the hearing.

According to a very senior member of the AASL, the IAAF on their part have invited Drs. Latiff (from Pakistan, who headed the SAF games medical panel in Colombo), Shiromi Pilapitiya, D. Ranaweera and Mrs. Irangani Jayaweera who accompanied Jani for her urine test.

The IOC will also have tele-conference with Dr. Ayotte at the Malaysian Testing Laboratory while the evidence is being conducted.

Chathurangi who finished second to Susanthika Jayasinghe in the 100 metres women’s final and was a member of the Gold winning 4x100 relay at the 2006 Colombo SAF games was tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, by the SAF games medical unit but, got away owing to a technical hitch. Then a second inquiry held by the AASL had to be abandoned owing to lack of evidence.

However thereafter the International Athletic Federation took upon the case on to themselves and are going ahead with the proceedings along with the IOC.