Vietnamese runner Quach Thi Lan (Photo: Tien Phong)

According to a statement made by the International Association of Athletics Federation, the Indian athlete has been banned for four years due to being found guilty of doping. In addition, she has been stripped of her two titles won at the 2017 Asian Championships, including the two gold medals in the 400 metres and 4x400 relay.

During the competition, Nirmala Sheoran had won the gold medal in the women’s 400 metres with a time of 52.1 seconds, followed by Thi Lan in second who won the silver medal with a time of 52.78 seconds.

During the 4x400 relay, Lan and her three teammates won a silver medal with a time of three minutes 33.22 seconds. This was behind the Indian team which included Nirmala Sheoran, who finished with a time of three minutes and 31.34 seconds.

As a result of the disqualification, Thi Lan’s results have now been upgraded, and the athlete has been awarded two gold medals for her performances at the Asian Championships 2017.

Previously, the Thanh Hoa-born athlete had also been awarded a gold medal for the women's 400m hurdles event at the 2018 Asian Games following first-place finisher Kemi Adekoya testing positive for a banned substance.

Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain failed a stanozolol test and was subsequently given a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit. VOV