NEW DELHI: Indian race walker Rani Yadav has tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, becoming the third person at the Commonwealth Games to be caught doping. The Commonwealth Games Federation says Yadav, who was sixth in the women's 20-kilometer walk Saturday, has been provisionally suspended from the event. Yadav, who has asked for her “B” sample to be tested, could be banned for two years if found guilty. “The hearing ruled that Ms. Yaday remains provisionally suspended from the Games pending the outcome of the ‘B' sample result, following which a further hearing will be scheduled,” the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement. Over the previous two days, two Nigerian runners were found to be positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine, with Osayomi Oludamola later stripped of her gold medal in the women's 100-meter race. Hurdler Samuel Okon, who did not win a medal, also tested positive. Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell said more than 1,300 doping samples had been collected so far at the games. After television footage of last weekend's cycling road race showed competitors speeding along virtually empty streets due to heavy security, Fennell said Wednesday that officials were trying to balance the need for extra vigilance with their wish to allow spectators close to the athletes for Thursday's marathon. On the penultimate day of Delhi 2010, 27 gold medals were decided with 10 in boxing. Sri Lanka won its first boxing gold since 1938 and India picked up three to prevent a rout by British boxers. Manju Wanniarachchi, a 30-year-old factory worker from Kandy, beat Wales' Sean McGoldrick in the bantamweight division. India's Suranjoy Mayengbam won flyweight gold without having to throw a punch after Kenya's Benson Njangiru failed to show because of a wrist injury. Manoj Kumar immediately followed up with a win against England's Bradley Saunders in the light welterweight division. Paramjeet Samota rounded off the finals with super-heavyweight gold, beating Tariq Abdul Haqq from Trinidad and Tobago. Northern Ireland had waited 16 years to win boxing gold, but their victory anthem “Danny Boy” was played three times after European champion Paddy Barnes won the light flyweight crown and Paddy Gallagher was victorious in the welterweight. Eamonn O'Kane made it three with a convincing win over England's Anthony Ogogo in the middleweight division, winning the 100th medal for the province in Games history. Australia won its second successive women's hockey gold with a nerve-wracking 4-2 win over New Zealand on penalties. Jessica Nicole scored the winner while Krystal Forgesson missed her attempt in the shoot-out after the scores were tied 2-2 at the end of extra-time. Scotland's David Millar took the time trial cycling gold, winning by nearly a minute in the searing 45-degree Delhi heat and in an event where once again spectators were largely absent. Singapore, Scotland, England and Malaysia all won gold medals on the final day of the shooting competition. But it was a subdued day though for hosts with ace rifle-shooter Gagan Narang, aiming for his fifth title, failing to qualify for the finals of the 50m rifle prone event. England's teenage Olympic hope Tom Daley won the 10m platform diving gold medal, his second of the Games after his 10m platform synchro title. Top seed Feng Tianwei led a Singapore cleansweep of the women's table tennis singles medals to a cap a glittering week for the nation. Crowds have increasingly flocked to the Games after empty venues caused acute embarrassment to organisers in the early days of the event. Organisers have handed out wads of free tickets to local children, hoping to boost the atmosphere and expose youngsters to unfamiliar sports. The result Wednesday was a packed house at the table tennis where thousands of schoolchildren cheered India's Achanta Sharath Kamal, first to defeat in the singles and then to victory in the men's doubles with Subhajit Saha. At the range, English shooter Mick Gault missed his major target in New Delhi, failing in his attempt to win his 18th Commonwealth Games medal to match the career record held by Australian shooter Phillip Adams. Gault finished seventh in his last event, the 25-meter standard pistol won by Singapore's Gai Bin. Local organizers have started hitting targets, after a problem-plagued buildup to the games. Fennell said he was pleased with the way the Delhi Games had been conducted. Two weeks before the Games began, and when news emerged of the filthy state of the unfinished athletes village, there was even talk of canceling the event. “I think that what has happened here demonstrates quite clearly that there is a very strong future for the Games,” Fennell said. “We had a lot of questions about cancellation, but the games have been celebrated in very fine style. Obviously we have to address some of the concerns and improve the product as we go along.” The next Games are in Glasgow from July 23 to Aug. 3, 2014.
