Tweet
Santhi may be stripped of Asiad silver
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, December 17, 2006
India's Santhi Soundarajan is likely to be stripped of the 800 metres silver she won at the just-concluded Doha Asian Games after failing a gender test.
The test revealed that Santhi did not have the sexual characteristics of a woman, a TV channel reported. The problem was detected immediately after she won the medal and it is understood that Indian sports officials were aware of this.
Santhi won the silver clocking 2:3.16 behind Mariam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain.
"In our days, such tests were never conducted. However, nowadays the prize money is so high that athletes take to shortcuts to win," said former International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ashwini Kumar.
"The sport is not what it used to be once. Gender verification tests should be brought back in a big way," he maintained.
The Indian media had gone to town after Santhi's win, pointing out her humble origins - her parents are daily wage earners.
-tazz
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, December 17, 2006
India's Santhi Soundarajan is likely to be stripped of the 800 metres silver she won at the just-concluded Doha Asian Games after failing a gender test.
The test revealed that Santhi did not have the sexual characteristics of a woman, a TV channel reported. The problem was detected immediately after she won the medal and it is understood that Indian sports officials were aware of this.
Santhi won the silver clocking 2:3.16 behind Mariam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain.
"In our days, such tests were never conducted. However, nowadays the prize money is so high that athletes take to shortcuts to win," said former International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ashwini Kumar.
"The sport is not what it used to be once. Gender verification tests should be brought back in a big way," he maintained.
The Indian media had gone to town after Santhi's win, pointing out her humble origins - her parents are daily wage earners.
-tazz
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
Comment