Doping scandal: Ashwini Akkunji and 7 other athletes get clean chit

December 11, 2011

New Delhi, December 11: The Mukul Mudgal committee, appointed by the sports ministry in the wake of doping scandal that hit Indian athletics in July this year, has given a clean chit to the eight athletes involved, according to reports.

The report added, the one-man committee concluded that this was 'accidental and not a deliberate act of doping.

Eight Indian athletes including Mandeep Kaur, Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose — who were part of the 4x400 metres relay gold winning quartet at the Commonwealth and Asian Games — Priyanka Panwar, Juana Murmu and Tiana Mary, plus long jumper Hari Krishnan and shot putter Sonia had tested positive for prohibited substances during out-of-competition testing in July this year.

The one-man committee headed by retired high court chief justice Mukul Mudgal is understood to have given a clean chit to the eight athletes who had tested positive for prohibited substances during out-of-competition testing in July this year.

The athletes were suspended and the services of their Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogorodnik were terminated.

However, the athletes will have to wait for the verdict from National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) disciplinary panel to decide their participation at next year's London Games.

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NRI from Udupi wins Rs 50 crore in Abu Dhabi’s big ticket draw

News Network

February 4,2026

An Indian resident who won the Dh20 million (approximately Rs 50 crore) jackpot in Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket draw has told of his joy at sharing his life-changing fortune with a friend.

Shanthanu Shettigar, a shop manager in Muscat, regularly buys tickets for the monthly grand prize draw with one of his closest friends – and the pair won on February 3.

Mr Shettigar, 33, who is from Udyavar in Udupi district of the southern state of Karnataka and has lived in the Omani capital for eight years, said he was left speechless after learning of his success.

“When I first moved to Muscat, many of my colleagues were purchasing Big Ticket, which encouraged me to give it a try,” he said.

“I started buying tickets on my own, and later began sharing tickets with a close friend. The ticket that brought me this win was one we purchased together.”

“Like most people, I receive a lot of spam calls, and I was fully absorbed in my work as well. I knew the live draw was taking place tonight, but I never imagined my name would be announced,” he said.

“When I realised it was real and that I had won, I was honestly speechless. It still hasn’t fully sunk in, but I’m extremely happy.”

Mr Shettigar is not sure how he will spend his share of the money, but encouraged others to take part.

“This win was completely unexpected, so I want to take some time to think things through before deciding what to do next,” he said.

“I would definitely encourage others to participate with Big Ticket, whether with family or friends – you never know when your moment might come.”

The Big Ticket was established in 1992 with an initial first prize of Dh1 million. It is one of the most popular monthly raffles in the UAE.

It has transformed the lives of many people across the Emirates and beyond.

Entry to the Big Ticket Millionaire is Dh500. Tickets can be bought online or at counters at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.

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