The gender of an athlete who won a women's relay gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games has been called into question following rape allegations made by another woman and widely reported in the Indian media.

Pinki Pramanik is alleged to have raped a woman she was living with in the eastern state of West Bengal. The woman alleged that Pramanik was a man and had promised to marry her but later refused to do so.

The Indian Express newspaper quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Subrata Bandyopadhyay as saying Pramanik had been arrested and police had approached a court ``seeking permission for medical tests to determine the gender of the athlete.''

Pramanik, 26, retired from athletics three years ago. The Indian Athletics Federation has declined comment. (AP)

<관련 한글 기사>

여성 금메달리스트…알고 보니 남자?

지난 2006년 아시안 게임에서 여성 릴레이부분에 출전해 금메달을 획득한 핑키 프라매닉(26)의 성별에 대한 논란이 일고 있다.

이 사건은 프라매닉의 동거녀였던 한 여성이 프라매닉은 남자이며 이 둘은 한 때 결혼을 약속한 사이였다고 주장하며 붉어졌다.

경찰은 프라매닉을 강간 혐의로 체포하고, 병원에서 그의 성별의 진단받을 수 있도록 법원의 승인을 구하고 있다.

프라매닉은 3년 전 선수생활을 접고 은퇴했다.