S Santi likely to be stripped of Asian Games medal

Chennai, Dec 17 (UNI) Middle distance runner S Santi, who had won a silver medal in the Doha Asian Games, is in danger of being stripped of her medal after she reportedly failed a gender test.

No official information has come in from the organising Committee in Doha. Reports reaching here suggested that she might be stripped of her medal having failed the gender test.

Tamil Nadu Athletic Association (TNAA) sources told UNI that ''we have not received any official information from Doha. We only came to know from media report''.

Shanti is scheduled to get an award of Rs 15 lakh from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi tomorrow.

The news came as a shock to Santhi who has hogged the limelight at internatiomal level, rising from humble beginning.

She had opened Indaia's medal hunt in athletics in the Doha Asiad with the silver she had won.

Santhi is supposed to have reached Chennai for the felicitation tomorrow along with long jump star Anju Bobby George who has also won a silver.

Mediapersons were desperately trying to reach her to get her reaction.

In 1982, before the Asian Games, track queen P T Usha was subjected to a gender test. However, she was cleared, it may be recalled.

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