Shuttler Popat banned for doping

JAKARTA (JP): The International Badminton Federation (IBF) announced early this week that it had banned Aparna Popat, a member of the Indian Uber Cup team, after she was found guilty of consuming Phenylpropanolamine at a concentration level above the International Olympics Committee (IOC) limit.

The IBF Disciplinary Committee stated that it decided Popat had inadvertently taken the banned substance which was contained in the D'Cold Total medication she consumed.

IBF media officer Lindsay Bell said in the release made available to The Jakarta Post that Popat was banned for three months starting from March 13 and ending on June 12. She will also have to forfeit the world ranking points acquired during the Uber Cup qualifying round matches in New Delhi in February.

IBF Chief Executive Neil Cameron said: "I am disappointed that this case means that our antidoping education actions have proved insufficient. Therefore, we must redouble our efforts." (yan)