Commonwealth games: SL boxer quits after scandal

Wanniarachchi will not exercise his right to appeal against the ruling that disqualified him from the 2010 Games.

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan boxer Manju Wanniarachchi, who was stripped of his Commonwealth Games gold medal after failing a doping test, has retired from the sport.

Wanniarachchi will also not exercise his right to appeal against the ruling that disqualified him from the 2010 Games and cancelled his gold medal in the bantamweight 56-kilogramme weight division.

“He does not wish this matter to drag on and decided against appealing and instead will retire from the sport with immediate effect,” said Sudam Sri Pahalagama.

He added that Wanniarachchi maintained his innocence despite a Commonwealth Games Federation Court hearing in Malaysia earlier this month that found him guilty of doping.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2011.