New Delhi: The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) president Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday said drug tainted middle distance runner Sunita Rani is free to compete, as she is not banned.

"If she wants to compete she can compete. At the moment she is not banned," Kalmadi told reporters here when asked whether Rani would compete in next month's National Games.

He said AAFI has asked Sports Authority of India (SAI) to test the 'B' sample of Sunita Rani taken on September 30 at an IOC accredited lab as recommended by the one- man Salwan Commission.

"I just returned yesterday from Monte Carlo. I don't know whether they have send the sample for testing or not," Kalmadi said.

Kalmadi said the AAFI delegation, which went to Monte Carlo recently protested against the result of the Seoul Dope testing laboratory. Rani was stripped of her gold and bronze medals at the Busan Asian Games after she tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone.

"We met the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) general secretary Istavan Gyulai, vice-president Arne Ljungqvist (who is also the chairman of IAAF Anti Doping Commission) and Dr Gabriel Dolle, IAAF Anti Doping Officer and registered our protest," Kalmadi said.

Kalmadi said they were given a patient hearing when told about the discrepancies in the lab report. "The matter would be taken up during the next hearing of the Anti Doping Commission," he said adding that it is a long procedure.

PTI