Mandeep Kaur claims innocence

Kaur has been suspended and faces a two-year ban after flunking an out-of-competition dope test.

A teary-eyed quarter-miler Mandeep Kaur,who flunked an out-of-competition dope test conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations IAAF ,today denied taking any steroids knowingly.

I am in the International Registered Testing Pool of the WADA after the Asian Games and I am not a mad person that I would take steroids to enhance performance. Steroids remain inside the body for three months and how can any athlete who is in the international testing pool take drugs, said Mandeep,who had won gold in Commonwealth and Asian Games 4x400m relay.

Mandeep has been suspended and faces a two-year ban after flunking an out-of-competition dope test.

The 8216;B8217; samples of the athletes returned positive for anabolic steroids in the tests conducted by IAAF.

Her 8216;B8217; sample had adverse analytical findings for epimethandiol,metabolites of methandienone and stanozolol.

Mandeep said she suspected that the banned substances were present in the food supplements and vitamins that she had taken from outside the NIS Patiala where they had been training.

I suspect the food supplements,vitamins we took could have created the problems. We don8217;t have a doctor and we don8217;t know which drug can create problems. We ourselves can8217;t become doctors, said Mandeep.

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We bought the supplements and vitamins by ourselves and I want them to be tested whether they contain steroids, she added.

I had not taken any banned substance in my career. I have been running at the top level for the last 6-7 years and this is the first time it is happening.Why should I do something which would taint the reputation of my family? the 23 year old said.

The development is a huge setback for the country as it would be difficult for India to qualify for the London Olympics in women8217;s 4X400m relay race as Mandeep has been an important member of the quartet for some time.