Mangalore: Corporation Bank Suspends Ads Featuring Ashwini Akkunji
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jul 9: Public sector Corporation Bank having its headquarters in the city, has withdrawn advertisement features involving its brand ambassador, Ashwini Chidanand Shetty Akkunji. The athletics icon, who had won gold medals in Commonwealth and Asian Games, has been in the eye of storm since the doping controversy surfaced.
Corporation Bank general manager, B R Bhat, explained that it has been decided to stop advertisement cut-outs featuring Aswhini, as the bank feels that her continuance may bring disrepute the bank besides delivering wrong message to the youth. He said that the decision will be in vogue for the present. “Normally, the bank changes the ambassadors in advertisements once in 15 days. By coincidence, Ashwini’s was being portrayed in the bank advertisements currently,” he explained.
As far as Ashwini’s employment with the bank is concerned, Bhat confirmed that she will continue to be in the bank’s services now. He said that the bank awaits the result of the doping test on the second sample. “It is left to the Indian government either to retain her or to remove her from our rolls. The bank will initiate departmental proceedings depending on the decision the Sports Authority of India takes on the basis of the report on ‘B’ sample. The proceedings will be held as per the laid down procedures of the bank,” he narrated.
The bank had chosen the sprinter as its brand ambassador and employed her as the manager in March this year, taking cognizance of her achievements in the field of sports.