India's 4x400 mixed relay team Asian Games silver medal upgraded to gold

The upgrade came after Bahrain's Kemi Adekoya was handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit for 'doping'
India's 4x400 mixed relay team Asian Games silver medal upgraded to gold

Guwahati: The silver medal won by Indian 4x400m mixed relay team of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta has been upgraded to gold after Bahrain's Kemi Adekoya was handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit for failing to clear a dope test.

As a consequence, the entire Bahrain squad which came first was disqualified. Similarly, India's Anu Raghavan moved from fourth place to a bronze medal position in the women's 400m hurdles, the Athletics Federation of India confirmed.

"The news comes as a fillip to us as we are aiming to build on the Asian Games showing and make a mark at the global level in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year," Athletics Federation of India President Adille J. Sumariwalla said in a release, expressing his delight.

In the final, the Indian quartet of Anas, Poovamma, Das and Rajiv had finished second with a timing of 3:15.71. The final was mired in controversy as Hima Das was alleged to be obstructed by Oluwakemi Adekoya

India now is the first winner of the 4x400m mixed relay event introduced at the Asian Games in 2018 in keeping with the international bid to find gender balance in sporting disciplines.

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