Sports
Salwa Eid Naser’s missed drug tests and Sri Lanka’s missed medal
Nadeesha Ramanayake, Dilshi Kumarasinghe, Upamalika Ratnakumari and Nimali Liyanarachchi joined to establish a national record but that feat was not enough to win a medal as Salwa Eid Naser stunned them in the final lap.
by Reemus Fernando
When it comes to gold medal winners at last year’s Asian Athletics Championships, no name rings louder than that of the Bahrain sprinter Salwa Eid Naser for Sri Lanka women’s 4x400metres relay quartet who established a new national record in Doha. Despite breaking the national record held by legendary athlete Damayanthi Dharsha and co, the team, inclusive of Nadeesha Ramanayake, Dilshi Kumarasinghe, Upamalika Ratnakumari and Nimali Liyanarachchi, had to settle for the fourth place. After being in contention for a medal for a better part of the relay, Sri Lanka were stunned in the last lap by the sprinting prowess of Nigerian born Salwa Eid Naser who anchored the Bahrain team to gold. A few months later the Bahrain athlete stunned the Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo in one of the biggest upsets at the World Championships at the same venue. However later it came to light that she was under investigation for missing drug tests when she competed at the World Championships.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) last month said that the charges against Naser for missed tests and filing failures were dismissed by an independent tribunal. But the women’s 400-meter world champion faces new legal case that could see her banned before the Tokyo Olympics. In an event of her being slapped with a ban, the athletes who had been beaten by Naser for medals would seek an upgrade to the colours of their medals.
Track and field’s Athletics Integrity Unit said it appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a decision last month to close the case against Naser. She has been charged with breaking anti-doping rules and could be slapped with a two year ban. Her anti doping rules violation is a whereabouts, which constitutes of any combination of three missed tests or filing failures in a 12-month period, according to the World Athletics anti-doping rules.
The particular 12 month period includes the Asian Athletics Championship 2019.
Naser won three golds at the Asian Athletics Championship including a championship record of 22.74 seconds in winning the 200 metres. She clocked 51.34 seconds to win the 400 metres.
Sri Lanka were shocked in the women’s 4×400 metres final. After a strong start by Nadeesha Ramanayake, Dilshi Kumarasinghe powered Sri Lanka to the second place leaving Ratnakumari and Liyanarachchi to battle it out in the last two laps. By the time Liyanarachchi took the baton Sri Lanka were still in contention for a medal and Bahrain were trailing in the fourth place. Official statistics showed Naser running sub 50 seconds in the final lap to overtake Sri Lanka, Japan and India to win her third gold.
When Naser beat Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo at the World Championships 2019, she produced 48.14 seconds, the fastest time of the 400 metres since 1985 and the third fastest all time.
Ananda earned first innngs honours against Royal as a five wicket haul by spinner Kithma Vidanapathirana and useful contributions with the bat from Nethula Edirimanne (34), Vidanapathirana (30), Lithma Perera (44), Rashan Dilaksha (52) and Himira Kudagama (24n.o.) stood in good stead for the home team in the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Ananda Mawatha on Friday.
Scores
Royal 189 all out in 53.1 overs (Rehan Peiris 58, Udantha Gangewatta 33, Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 22; Kithma Vidanapathirana 5/34, Ashinsa Nainayake 2/38) and 222 for 9 in 62 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 57, Rehan Peiris 29, Udantha Gangewatta 47, Thevindu Wewalwala 37; Danindu Sellapperuma 5/45)
Ananda 239 all out in 69.5 over (Nethula Edirimanne 34, Kithma Vidanapathirana 30, Lithma Perera 44, Rashan Dilaksha 52, Himira Kudagama 24n.o.; Himaru Deshan 2/56, Ramiru Perera 5/61)
Bens looking for first innings advantage against Thomians at Kotahena
Day One Scores
S. Thomas’ 189 all out in 63.3 overs (Mahith Rajapaksha 29, Ludeesha Matarage 25, Reshon Soloman 20, Raphael Hettige 44, Shanil Perera 22; Vihanga Rathnayaka 4/30, Lithika Jayasundara 2/17)
St. Benedict’s 134 for 4 in 31 overs (Mario Fernando 49, Mihila Jayaweera 47, Vihanga Rathnayake 22n.o.; Gimhan Mendis 3/29) (RF)
Todd Murphy is firming to play his first home Test, after the SCG’s head curator declared the pitch’s green covering would be near-irrelevant come day one.
With administrators still on edge after last week’s two day debacle in Melbourne, an extremely green SCG surface raised eyebrows in Sydney on Thursday.
But chief curator Adam Lewis insisted on Friday that should not be a concern, and he was hopeful Sydney would extend into a fifth day.
“You want to see green tinge three days out,” Lewis said. “If you’re not seeing any live grass three days out, then that’s when it’s a worry, … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting.
“We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment. We’re looking good.”
Lewis admitted he felt for MCG counterpart Matt Page last week, but said he felt no external pressure to ensure the fifth Test in Sydney went the distance.
It’s estimated that Cricket Australia (CA) has lost in the vicinity of AUD15 million in profits this summer, with the opening Test in Perth also finishing inside two days.
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked at a function with teams on Thursday night that they had to ensure the game went to day three, in order to support the McGrath Foundation fundraiser.
One of the hardest grounds in the world to bowl on between 2014 and 2023, last year’s SCG Test was over in just two-and-a-half days.
Lewis said that his ground staff would go with 6mm of grass this year compared to 7mm last season, while also reducing its density. That in itself generally acts to flatten out the wicket and produce less movement, while also inviting the chance of spin late in the match.
“We just thought … we could thin our density out a little bit,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’ve done this year. We’ve practised that in the Shield matches and we’ve received very good marks.”
CA CEO Todd Greenberg said he too was confident the SCG Test would last the distance.
“I’ve had more phone calls and conversations about wickets and millimetres of grass than I thought I’d ever have,” Greenberg said. “But I’m hopeful and confident we will have a long and productive Test match here.”
All of which should spell good news for Murphy. Australia’s coaching staff had a prolonged conversation around the pitch on Friday morning, after leaving Murphy out and going with four quicks at the MCG.
Murphy then spent most of Friday’s training session bowling to Australia’s top order, while Alex Carey also had an extended run keeping to him.
With seven Tests to his name overseas, Murphy would be expected to come in for Jhye Richardson if he does play in Sydney.
England have promised to take the attack to Murphy, who played two Tests during the 2023 Ashes were he conceded 4.72 an over.
“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people,” opener Zak Crawley, said. “Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.
That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it’s definitely going to be a threat. But I think we’ll try and put pressure on all their bowlers.”
The other question for Australia will be whether Cameron Green remains in the side, after Beau Webster was spotted fielding in the gully during slips training on Friday. Green has averaged 18.66 with the bat in this series. The SCG was the scene of Webster’s debut a year ago against India.
[Cricinfo]
Young Pramod Madushan has become the talk in cricket circles after he scored 42 runs in an over for Mercantile Services Cricket Academy against Sigi Cricket Academy at Ambalangoda recently.
In an over that contained nine deliveries, including two no-balls and a wide, Madushan cut loose hitting three fours and five sixes. In all, the over bowled by Bihandu Sandiv went for 45 runs.
The young cricketer from D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo shares the same name as Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramod Madushan. However, the 19-year-old is a wicketkeeper batter.
His knock of 103 came in just 38 deliveries and contained eight fours and ten sixes.
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