Games hosts India face dope shame
`Four Indian wrestlers and a shot-putter were suspended from next
month’s Commonwealth Games on home soil after failing drug tests,
officials said on Friday.
All five tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant
used widely as a nasal decongestant, according to Rahul Bhatnagar, who
heads the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
Three male wrestlers, Rajiv Tomar, Sumit Kumar and Masuam Khatri,
female wrestler Gursharanpreet Kaur and male shot-putter Saurav Vij were
suspended pending tests of their “B” samples. They were all thrown out
of the national squads for the Commonwealth Games which begin in the
Indian capital New Delhi on October 3.
Two other wrestlers and an athlete, who were not part of the Games
squad, also tested positive, Bhatnagar said.
“It is unfortunate these failed tests came just before the Games,”
Bhatnagar said. “But we have a no-tolerance policy towards that. They
can get their ‘B’ tests done if they want.”
Wrestling and athletics officials said the tests were done during
pre-Games trials and camps and were hoping to name replacements in the
respective squads.
Doping has afflicted Indian sport over the last decade with
weightlifters being the chief culprits.
The Indian weightlifting federation was fined 500,000 dollars by the
world governing body after six lifters failed dope tests last year.
The federation managed to pay only 125,000 dollars and were forced to
take an interest-free loan from Games organisers to pay the rest of the
fine and ensure their participation in Delhi 2010.
NEW DELHI, Monday (AFP) - |