Two local athletes fail dope test in Nigeria

Mauritian sport is going through a hard time. Two sports professionals, Arnaud Casquette and Dolly Namaseevayen, have tested positive in dope tests. Arnaud Casquette, our major high jump athlete ? who won two bronze medals at the French-speaking countries Games in Nigeria two weeks ago ? tested positive for cannabis. Although he accepted the test results, he will have to explain before a disciplinary committee the circumstances that brought him to consume cannabis. While his colleagues try to cheer him up, the administrative secretary of the Mauritian Association of Amateur Athletics, Vivian Gungaram, insists that the ?sanction must be an example for others.? Casquette could lose his two medals and be suspended from national and international competitions for a year. Dolly Namaseevayen, the judo champion of the IO Island Games, tested positive for furosemide ? considered as a diuretic by the anti-dope world agency. Such substances are often used to lose weight within a short period of time. Although she in fact had to lose some weight in November, she insists she never took such products with that aim. However, she had been taking medicines for hormonal problems that could explain the positive result. She risks two years? suspension.

Labour party shaken by lack of solidarity

Solidarity seems to have been put in jeopardy within the Labour party. MP Yatin Varma, did not hesitate to say that one of his colleagues ? who is also a minister of the Republic ? should step down until his name is cleared in the MCB fraud case. Although Yatin Varma is known for being quite provocative in Parliament, such a public declaration on a private radio was quite unexpected. The main person concerned, Vasant Bunwaree, said it was a ?storm in a teacup?.

According to Yatin Varma, who insisted that he was only expressing his personal opinion, the whole question is simply a ?matter of principle? which all members of the government should respect. But the minister appears relatively unconcerned: ?I do not have the right not to show solidarity towards one of my party members. But it is said that some people are trying to hinder government action at a time when solidarity is more important than ever.?

The MP?s declaration seems to have shocked most of his colleagues, the more so as he made it while the prime minister was abroad. The deputy prime minister, Rashid Beebeejaun, met Yatin Varma after the latter?s declaration to ask him not to make any more of them until the prime minister gets back from London?

Sad Christmas because of road deaths

This Christmas has not been a happy one for the families of Saukatally Emambux and Elvis Capricieux. Both of them died in a violent accident at d?Epinay on Saturday morning. It involved a van that was transporting workers and a bus carrying children. There were also 18 people injured, one of whom is in a coma. According to the police, the bus was overtaking a four-wheel drive when it crashed into the van. The bus driver has been provisionally charged wuth manslaughter. Both victims of the accident leave a family. This should make all drivers reflect during the period of festivities which sometimes makes people careless....