Mangalore, July 9: Life is on a tailspin for Ashwini Chidananda Akkunji, who was the toast of the nation after her golden run in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. A day after Olympic Gold Quest, founded by sports icons Prakash Padukone and Geet Sethi, provisionally suspended funding to drug-tainted Ashwini, comes the news of her employer city-based Corporation Bank temporarily yanking her off their promotional drive.
The bank had launched Ashwini, local lass from Siddapura in Kundapur taluk, with much fanfare on International Women's Day on March 8 as their new young face. A little under four months from that day, the bank for the time being has decided to keep on hold all promotional material involving Ashwini. Reason: Bank does not want to court controversy over the conduct of its employee. Ashwini is a probationary officer with the bank.
Reacting with alacrity to news of Ashwini returning positive for anabolic steroids in the out-of-competition dope tests conducted by NADA on June 27, the bank has removed all advertisement hoardings featuring her. Even the print media publicity ads featuring Ashwini have been put on hold for the time being, a bank official stated.
Ramnath Pradeep, chairman and managing director of the bank, told media persons that the bank took this step to avoid any needless embarrassment. Pradeep reiterated his stand that the bank would not initiate any action against her until they get an official word from Athletics Federation of India about her involvement in the doping scandal. "We will await their word based on the B sample tests," he noted.
On Ashwini's career prospects, Ramnath said: "She is a bank employee. In case, she is found guilty of misconduct (of doping), the bank would take action as per employment clause governing officers." Not allowing the promotional material featuring her is the best course of interim action until the final report comes, he explained. Ashwini switched tracks leaving Indian Railways to join the bank in March earlier this year.
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