Criminals control large part of world sports, says WADA

(Reuters) - The criminal underworld now controls a large proportion of world sport, World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman said on Wednesday.

He told a doping conference convened by the World Sports Law Report at Twickenham rugby stadium that the criminal elements in illegal betting were also involved in steroid trafficking.

“My information is we now know the criminal underworld controls a significant proportion of world sport,” he said.

He added that there was more money made in trafficking illegal performance-enhancing drugs than in dealing heroin.

Howman later told reporters his information came from law enforcement people “far more experienced and knowledgeable than any one of us”.

“They say the underworld is involved in betting, in distributing steroids and it’s the same jokers, it’s not anybody new,” he said.

“I have been saying this for five or six years and now INTERPOL are justifying it. They now have the numbers and the information and they are really worried about it.”

Howman also told the conference there was evidence that there had been attempts to bribe doping control officers.

He told reporters the amounts involved were “thousands of dollars”.

Sri Lanka suspends Boxer Manju Wanniarachchi

Sri Lankan Sports Authorities yesterday imposed a ban on Boxer Manju Wanniarachchi from taking part in any national or international games. The National Anti Doping Agency of Sri Lanka in accordance with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) code has imposed a provisional suspension on him from taking part in the games effective from yesterday.

This would apply to national and international games until the completion of hearings against him by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Sri Lankan Boxer Wanniarachchi, who won men’s 56kg bantam weight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in October 2010 had been tested positive for Nandralone, a banned anabolic steroid which has been included in the banned list of performance enhancing drugs by the world anti-doping body – WADA.

The WADA had  informed Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee of the positive urine sample test of the Sri Lankan boxer who won a boxing gold medal for Sri Lanka after 72 years.

 Wanniarachchi will be stripped off his gold medal if his ‘B’ urine sample too has been tested positive.