Athletes' provisional suspension reimposed

The International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF) has reimposed provisional suspensions on four Indian female quarter-milers -- Mandeep Kaur, Jauna Murmu, Sini Jose and Tiana Mary Thomas, pending a final decision on its appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

The other two, Ashwini and Priyanka Panwar would be suspended on June 27 since their one year gets completed on June 26. The development ends speculation about whether these girls will make it to the Olympics or whether they would participate in Olympic qualification races. 

In the meantime, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) would not be sending any relay team, in men or women, to the Asian All Stars in Almaty on June 30 and July 1. 

The AFI has meanwhile gone ahead with the understanding that all the six girls would require four re-instatement tests before they are allowed back. It includes three out of competition tests spread out by three months each and the last one, just before re-entry, for the complete range of substances in the prohibited list.

The AFI has already done two tests, the last one on June 21, meaning the third out of competition test will now come in September.

The suspension of four of the girls, Sini, Tiana, Ashwini and Priyanka, was back dated to sample collection date by the appeal panel solely on the argument that it would enable the girls to compete in “Olympic trials” meaning the process towards qualification for the London Games.