Sunita Rani (Hindi: सुनीता रानी; born 4 December 1979) is an Indian athlete from Punjab who won a gold medal in the 1,500 m race and a bronze in the 5,000 m during the 2002 Asian Games. Her time of 4:06.03 in the 1,500 metres is the current Indian national record. She received the Arjuna award in 1999 and the Padma Shri in 2015[1][dead link] for her achievements. She later raised controversy when she was charged with doping. Her medals were revoked but subsequently reinstated after an investigation.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 December 1979 Sunam, Punjab, India |
| Sport | |
| Country | India |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Regional finals |
|
Life and career
editRani hails from Sunam, Punjab and is best known for her performance at the 2002 Asian Games, where she won a gold medal in the 1,500 m race and a bronze in the 5,000 m.[2]
Controversy
editRani was hit with controversy about her performance at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, after she tested positive for nandrolone, a banned substance that aids recovery, strength, and endurance. Both her medals were revoked. The Indian Olympic Association fought to prove that the doping tests had major procedural irregularities and that the results were not valid. Rani has categorically maintained that she had not taken any banned substances. She had also cleared the dope test in Delhi, on the eve of the Indian team's departure to Busan.[3]
The Olympic Council of Asia later officially admitted that there had been discrepancies in her drug test. On 3 January 2003, the International Association of Athletics Federations officially cleared Rani of doping charges and reinstated her medals.[4] The Amateur Athletic Federation of India held a 'Restoration of Medals' ceremony on 4 February 2003, to officially return Rani's medals.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ "ये लेडी IPS ने एथलीट बनकर पाया पद्मश्री, कभी रिश्तेदार कहते थे लड़कियों का खेलना नहीं है ठीक". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 30 April 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ Chakravarty, Sayantan (2 December 2002). "Hope for Sunita Rani as Indian officials press world athletics bodies to clear her name". India Today. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "IAAF clears Sunita Rani of doping charges". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Sunita Rani to get her medals back on Feb 4". indiatimes.com. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Sunita Rani gets rousing reception in Sunam". indiatimes.com. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
