Dutee hopes to blaze tracks, get into TOP scheme

Cleared to compete following a landmark gender case, Indian sprinter Dutee Chand is waiting anxiously to shine on the tracks again in her bid to get a slot in the Sports Ministry's Target Olympic Podium scheme for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Dutee was banned last year under IAAF's hyperandrogenism policy after tests revealed that her body produced natural levels of testosterone above permissible range.
But the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in its July verdict, suspended the "hyperandrogenism" rules, which will be scrapped if the IAAF, the world body of the sport, cannot provide new evidence.
With nearly a year lost fighting the case, Dutee is now looking forward to do what she does best on the track -- run for gold. The Railways sprinter is now geared up for the 55th National Athletics Championship which begins here tomorrow. She had won 100m and 200m gold in the 2013 edition in Ranchi.

"I hope I'm able to get back to my rhythm again though I'm a bit nervous. At the same time, I'll be much relieved tomorrow, it's like starting a new life," she said ahead of the Championship.
"However I'm confident of an impressive show so that I can come appeal to get a spot in the TOP scheme," the 19-year-old told PTI on the sidelines of practice at SAI Complex here.
"I was off training during the ban for about two months but after the appeal I started practice again," Dutee said.
Getting into TOP scheme is her biggest target as it would help her get a foreign exposure trip to achieve the Rio Olympics sprint qualification standards.