Athletics: Sprinter Himasha Eshan receives 4-year ban for failing dope test

Sprinter Himasha Eshan has been banned for a period of four years, after the former Sri Lanka record holder failed a random doping test conducted at the Army Housing Complex on October 26, 2021.

The ban has been recommended by Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency (SLADA), effective from the day of the test until October 25, 2025.

This is the second occasion Eshan was found guilty of using prohibited substance since 2012.

Himasha was found positive for banned substance methylhexanamine in 2012 and was kept out of the field for one year by Sri Lanka, but he came strong soon after the ban by winning the national championship the following year.

In December 2021, SLADA notified Eshan that his ‘A’ sample test has indicated an adverse analytical finding and he has been found positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid norandrosterone, after which the 27-year-old sprinter requested his ‘B’ sample tested.

In an official letter dated August 9, 2022, SLADA confirmed that both samples confirmed the usage of the banned substance and Eshan will be completely barred from competing, training or taking part in track events of any sort until the ban ends in 2025.

He will have the 14 days to make an official appeal from the date of receiving the letter from SLADA.

Eshan held the South Asian and Sri Lankan records in the men’s 100m after clocking 10.26 seconds, until September 2020, until they were shattered by Commonwealth Games bronze medalist South Asian as well as national record in the men's 100m event was shattered by his fellow compatriot Yupun Abeykoon.