New Delhi:
After a wait of almost five months, tests have now confirmed that Indian athlete Pinki Pramanik is male. This after the athlete was charged by live-in partner of allegedly raping her, in June.
Before the charge was made, Pramanik was known as an Indian female athlete who had won top honours for India at various athletics events - including a gold medal at the Asian Games. The athlete however came under the spotlight for the wrong reasons - allegedly raping girlfriend, who claimed that Pinki is actually a man.
Pinki was arrested on June 14 in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, where the athlete has lived for the last few years. After the arrest, Pinki was initially taken to a private nursing home in Barasat under police custody and later to the Barasat General Hospital for gender tests but the reports were inconclusive as the athlete was subsequently referred the SSKM Hospital. Eventually, the chromosome pattern test report (Karyotyping) to determine the gender was received by the hospital.
Pinki was then granted bail by the district court on the bond of Rs 5000. The bail was granted on the ground that IPC Section 376 (Punishment for rape) cannot be applied on the athlete.
The middle-distance runner had won 4x400m relay gold in the 2006 Doha Asiad and a silver in the same event at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Pinki bagged three gold medals in the 2006 SAF Games in Colombo when the athlete won the 400m, 800m and 4x400m relay events.
An employee with the Eastern Railway, Pinki was suspended by her employers due to the allegations.
On November 12, police submitted their conclusion to a local court. The reports say that Pinki is male and capable of intercourse.
Born on April 10, 1986, Pinki, who hails from West Bengal, made international debut at the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics where the athlete reached the 800 metres semi-finals. The athlete was hailed as the successor of legendary sprinter PT Usha after winning medals at various national and international events. The athlete won gold in 4x400 metres relay at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar along with Sathi Geetha, Chitra Soman and Manjeet Kaur. A silver medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games the same year with Rajwinder Kaur, Chitra Soman, and Manjeet Kaur in 4x400 metres relay race was also achieved.
Pinki wanted to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but a hamstring injury crashed all dreams. The athlete retired three years ago.
Pinki was also arrested in 2004 when a single shot improvised gun was recovered from the athlete's possession. Since Pinki belongs to Purulia in West Bengal, an area home to Naxal insurgency, the athlete was investigated for links to the Naxals, but was later cleared of all charges.