?He is no more.? Kunul Mohur went out to take part in a cross-country and his father found him in hospital where doctors told him his son was dead. Medical officer, Dr Sudesh Kumar, who did the post mortem examination, says death could either be due to a viral infection or to doping products. Samples of his stomach have been sent for further tests to ascertain the circumstances of this 18 year-old student?s death.

Kunul Mohur loved sports; this is why he competed for the inter-college cross-country organised by the Mauritius Secondary Schools Sports Association (MSSSA). His parents assert that he left home ?very fit and said he would be back around noon?.

One of his friends had sprained his ankle and had to stop during the run. ?As I knew that Kunul was behind me, I decided to wait for him,? he relates. However, seeing that Kunul was not coming, he thought his friend had overtaken him and continued the cross-country. ?Organisers realised that one participant was missing only after the prize giving and this is when they went to look for him,? adds Kunul?s friend.

According to the secretary of the MSSSA, all precautions had been taken for this cross-country to be held in the best possible conditions. ?It is really sad that such an incident occurred. However, I insist on saying that all safety measures had been taken,? he declared. He added that Kunul was not found immediately after the search started, as he was not on the track.

Doping products

Eastern College, which Kunul attended considers the MSSSA responsible for such a tragic event, as ?its officers should have taken all necessary measures throughout the track,? declared the director, Ramnath Jeetah.

Kunul?s parents do not understand how their son could be suspected of having taken doping products. ?Kunul was sane. He even refused to take drugs when he had a bad flu,? relates his mother, Anita. But she remembers that Kunul took a Red Bull drink with him before going; however there is no link between the drink and the student?s death.

Kunul was known to be an excellent sportsman. ?He never refused to take part in a football match or replace a player. He had a lot of energy,? declared one of his friends. He had planned to go to Denmark where his uncle was going to enrol him in a football club?