Three Sri Lankan players admitted taking banned steroids during the 2011 HSBC Asian Five Nations tournament in Colombo last month, the head of the country's sports medicine unit said today.

“They accepted that they had taken steroids that are banned,” Sri Lanka Sports Medical Unit chief Geethanjan Mendis said.

The three players, identified as Saliya Kumara, Keith Gurusinghe and Eranga Swarnathilake, failed the test carried out by the International Rugby Board. They could face a ban after a formal inquiry.

Last week, Sri Lanka Cricket said opening batsman Upul Tharanga had failed a doping test during the World Cup in March.

In May, Sri Lankan boxer Manju Wanniarachchi was stripped of his Commonwealth Games gold medal after his urine “B” sample tested positive for a banned performance enhancing substance, 19-Norandrosterone.  (AFP)