Sport - Sports : General   

A costly 'educational exercise'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 2. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, Suresh Kalmadi, told a press conference on Wednesday that the dope control measures at the Punjab National Games were "educative'' in nature and that a testing system was not in place at that time. He also said that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) dope control laboratory here was not fully equipped at that time.

Mr. Kalmadi was answering questions as to the action the IOA had taken — or not taken — with regard to 19 positive cases reported from the Punjab Games.

In its report, the committee appointed by the Delhi High Court, in the Sunita Godara case, had made some pertinent observations regarding dope-testing procedures at the Punjab National Games. The committee was headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and included the Secretary-General, IOA, and the Director-General, SAI.

The following are relevant excerpts from the committee report:

``For in-competition testing, it was decided to make a serious beginning with the forthcoming National Games being hosted by Punjab, in which athletes securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in every individual event should be subjected to compulsory testing. DG, SAI, was requested to gear up accordingly. In case of team events, a few players from teams securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd position, selected at random, may be subjected to testing. In case of other participants, tests may be administered as per random selection. It should be ensured that sample collection and handling is strictly done as per IOC guidelines to ensure 100 per cent credibility and avoidance of contamination / tampering....

``It was reported that SAI had already given instructions for training of technical personnel for collection of samples. It was suggested that sampling officials should be taken only from among SAI staff... A workshop was conducted by SAI for training officials for collection of urine samples for the National Games in Punjab from November 16-18, 2001.''

The minutes of the sixth meeting of the committee (the last meeting before the report was prepared), held on March 15, 2002, chaired by the Secretary, Sports Ministry, and attended among others by the IOA Secretary-General, Randhir Singh, noted:

``The committee was apprised that during the National Games, 487 urine samples of sportspersons in different disciplines were collected and final report in this regard was submitted to IOA. As per the report, 19 sportspersons were found positive on which necessary follow-up action is being taken by SAI with the respective NSFs.''

Under the head, `Testing in the SAI dope laboratory pending its accreditation', the report states:

``A very expensive facility involving huge investment both in imported and indigenous including some of the latest machines and highly qualified staff (sic) has been set up. Notwithstanding some minor equipment deficiencies pointed out by the visiting German experts, the laboratory is now by and large fully equipped to carry out the dope tests as per the standards laid down by IOC.''

Not a single piece of equipment has been added to the laboratory since the Punjab National Games to suggest that it has now been fully equipped. Nor has there been any change in the principal staff, including two scientists, carrying out the tough task there. Almost the same set of doctors and trained support staff who did duty in Punjab were in the dope control team in Hyderabad also.

So, why then is the IOA refusing to accept the positive tests at the Punjab Games while approving the ones from the Hyderabad Games, even after some of the federations have acted on Punjab Games-related reports?

The public surely has a right to know. After all, `educative' or not, the Punjab exercise cost the taxpayers around Rs. 20 lakh.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Athletics

• Campers for World meet and Afro-Asian Games
  
  Chess
  
• Anand, Judit Polgar begin in style
  
  Cricket
  
• Rafique raises Bangladesh's spirits
• Tamil Nadu gearing up to baulk Mumbai
• Oppressive heat gives teams tough time
• Wisden praises Ganguly
• Kandy has not been sweet for the Lankans
• Scotland ropes in Dravid
• Sehwag sets off to charm the county scene
• A sad sight, indeed!
  
  Football
  
• Beckham's future still a matter of speculation
  
  Hockey
  
• Sean is new chairman of FIH Athletes Panel
  
  Sports : General
  
• A costly 'educational exercise'
  
  Tennis
  
• India makes it to World Group
  
  Archery
  
• Satyadev, Dola dominate FITA round
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu