Odisha government assures Dutee Chand of assistance for Rio Olympics

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday assured ace sprinter Dutee Chand of full co-operation in her preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"Congratulations Dutee on your outstanding performance in National meet. You made us proud. The state will extend all support," Patnaik tweeted.

He also felicitated Chand on Thursday for her success in the 55th National Open Athletic Championship, which was held at Kolkata recently.

The ace sprinter won three gold medals in 100 metre, 200m and 4X100m relay at the championship and was the best female sprinter in the competition by far.

Dutee said, "The chief minister has assured me to provide all possible assistance for my preparation for Olympics. I will certainly bring glory to Odisha if the state government provides me a job."

Earlier, she had expressed her dissatisfaction with the state government for not providing any assistance including a job to eke out a living.

The sprinter was banned last year by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as her body produced testosterone at levels which were deemed higher than the limits for women sportspersons.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July cleared the sprinter by suspending the "hyperandrogenism" rules, which may also be scrapped if the IAAF fails to provide evidence.

Indo-Asian News Service

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