National athlete Isuru Lakshan cleared of anti-doping violation charges

Colombo, Sept. 3 (Daily Mirror) - The Ministry of Youth and Sports said today that national athlete R.P. Isuru Lakshan has been cleared of all charges related to an alleged violation of anti-doping regulations. 

Accordingly, the temporary suspension imposed on him has been lifted.

Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya, Director General of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA), said that the agency concluded its inquiry and accepted the findings of the Disciplinary Investigation Committee, which recommended that the athlete be discharged from all allegations.

The case stemmed from an incident on April 19, 2025, during 400m selection trials held at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama. According to the Doping Control Officer (DCO)'s report, the athlete allegedly ran away when approached by a chaperone for a sample collection. It was initially claimed that the athlete deliberately evaded the doping control process.

However, following hearings conducted on June 3 and July 3, 2025, at the National Institute of Sports Science, the Disciplinary Panel—led by President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa and comprising Prof. (Mrs) Rohini Fernandopulle and Dr. Nimal Gunarathne—determined that SLADA had failed to prove that the athlete had been properly notified of the doping control procedure.

 “There is no case for the athlete to answer, and thereby the athlete is exonerated from all charges,” the final decision stated.

The legal team representing SLADA included Mr. Panduka Keerthinanda and Ms. Subhani Mallawaarachchi, while the athlete was represented by Mr. Ranil Premathilaka and Mr. Suminda Perera.