Snubbed Susanthika finds succour in US

Jayasinghe, who fell from grace following a series of controversies including a ban for taking drugs after winning the 200m silver medal at the 1997 Athens World Championship to become the toast of her country, told the local press that she was bidding a tearful farewell to Sri Lanka.

“I will never be allowed to realise my full potential in Sri Lanka because the authorities will be constantly putting road blocks in my way. Therefore I am compelled to leave,” she told a Sunday newspaper before emplanning for the US.

She has however promised she would runonly for Sri Lanka and that she would be back home in time to take part in the qualifying rounds for the Spain Championship.

Susanthika, under fire from the entire nation for leaving the Asian Games after pulling out of the 100 m finals citing a hamstring injury, said, “I love my country and the people and will not let them down because of the harassment I faced at the hands of a powerful person,” accusing the Sports Minister of sexual harassment.

Things took a turn for worse when she tested positive for the banned drug, Nandrolene, following an out of competition test in April last year, accusing sports officials of a deliberate attempt to wreck her career. The international Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) slapped a suspension, but a National panel cleared her in a split verdict. However, the IAAF disciplinary committee is yet to pronounce its final verdict on her after granting conditional permission to take part in the Bangkok Games.

The paper quoted the athlete as saying that she had receivedoffers from three coaches to train her, though all those sponsors who rushed in after her World Championship silver is said to have withdrawn after the drug charge.