COLOMBO, Jan 23: The world athletics governing body has demanded a fresh doping probe against a Sri Lankan athlete cleared by local authorities, a top official said here on Tuesday.

Jani Chaturangani de Silva tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, after winning a gold and silver medal at the 2006 South Asian Federation Games here.

De Silva was hauled before a disciplinary committee which last week acquitted the sprinter, citing ‘procedural’ deficiencies with the way the tests were conducted.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) asked Sri Lanka's athletics body to launch another investigation, doctor Geethanjana Mendis, the head of Sri Lanka's Sports Medicine unit, said.

“They (IAAF) have written to me expressing unhappiness over the inquiry when she had tested positive in lab tests,” Mendis said.

“They will be sending their representative to attend the fresh inquiry which will be held by the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka.”

De Silva, who risked being stripped of her 4x100-metre relay gold medal and her 100-metre silver medal, has repeatedly denied she took banned drugs.—AFP