Commonwealth Games rocked by missing athletes, doping

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Commonwealth Games rocked by missing athletes, doping
Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:24 PM GMT

By Julian Linden

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Half the Sierra Leone team disappeared from the Commonwealth Games on Friday and two Indian weightlifters failed doping tests.

Police said another four athletes from war-ravaged Sierra Leone had fled the Games village in suburban Melbourne, bringing the number of missing athletes from the African country to 11.

Officials confirmed Raju Edwin and Tajinder Singh had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Stanozolol while Australian police began searching for missing athletes after the government issued a warning to competitors seeking asylum.

Almost everything Australia touched turned to gold on the playing fields as the host nation extended their massive lead in the medal standings.

England had a miserable day, failing to win a single gold after their crack sprint team messed up in the relay heats and their men's hockey team conceded a golden goal in extra time to lose a semi-final to Pakistan.

"This just isn't our championships, I'm gutted," English sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis told the BBC.

Australia won golds in athletics, diving, basketball and bowls to raise their total to 72 after nine of the 11 days of competition.

England remained in second place on 24 with Canada joining India in third place on 20 followed by South Africa (11), Scotland (10), Jamaica (8) and Kenya (6).

INDIAN SURPRISE

Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell told a news conference that Edwin and Singh had tested positive at an out-of-competition test before the Games began on March 15.

Indian team boss H.J. Dora later said he was surprised by the test results but said the pair would be heavily penalised if they were found guilty when they go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Saturday.

"All of our athletes are counselled on the use of banned substances and are fully aware of the consequences should they be found using them," he said.

Australia Prime Minister John Howard said athletes should not assume they would automatically be granted political asylum.

"I don't want any other athletes who might be thinking along those lines to imagine all you have to do is stay behind and we will keep you. No, it doesn't work that way," Howard told Australian radio.

A Tanzanian boxer and a Bangladeshi runner were reported missing earlier in the week.