• Will netball ex-Captain be banned?

The disciplinary inquiry pertaining to former Captain of the National Netball Team Semini Alwis, who had failed a doping test last March, has been held on 19 June, Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) Chairperson Prof. Arjuna de Silva told The Sunday Morning Sports. 

The outcome of the inquiry was expected to be known either late this month or in early August, he added.

Prof. de Silva further said that any future action by way of punishment to be imposed on the netballer concerned would hinge on the result of the disciplinary inquiry, although he could not commit to what the penalty would be. 

However, sources from netball circles revealed that, at the most, a four-year ban could await the ex-skipper.

It is also learnt that depending on the outcome of the disciplinary inquiry on Alwis, and if it were to be in the form of a ban, she would be able to lodge an appeal to the relevant sectors (Court of Arbitration) against the verdict.

However, netball analysts reckon that the career of the former Captain, who is currently temporarily banned from the sport, will be well and truly over in the event of a four-year suspension being imposed on her by the SLADA.

Alwis is alleged to have used prohibited stimulants (anabolic steroids) following a random test conducted by the SLADA last March during ongoing pool training of the National Netball Team ahead of the Asian Netball Championships in Saudi Arabia in September.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had officially informed the former Captain and SLADA that the player’s initial urine samples had contained prohibited stimulants following a test done on 21 March.

It is also the first time ever that a netballer from Sri Lanka had failed a doping test carried out by SLADA and WADA, respectively.

Prior to her doping ordeal, the player concerned was also a senior member of the National Netball Team, having represented her country at two Netball World Cups in 2015 and 2019 in addition to having led Sri Lanka at the Sydney World Cup nine years ago. 

(JK)