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Drug stores raided; NIS searches hostels
Athletes told me they knowingly take banned drugs: Saina
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NIS top brass unmoved
Coach directed not to leave country
5 foreign coaches may be probed
India’s tour of west indies
3rd test: day 1 Indian players celebrate the wicket of Kieran Powell in Roseau, Dominica on Wednesday. — AFP
Rathour aims to take Punjab high
Archers earn four Olympic slots
Indian boxers pack a punch
Indian swimmers win gold, miss Olympic berth
Suppiah sets 20-20 record
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Drug stores raided; NIS searches hostels
Patiala, July 6 “We will issue a final report to the Civil Surgeon and there would be regular such raids in future,” said Jatinder Singh, a drug inspector stationed in Patiala. The minister has ordered the immediate cancellation of the licences of erring shops and registration of criminal cases against them. He said that the Punjab Government was determined to act strongly against the miscreants. Meanwhile, national campers confirmed to The Tribune that a major in-house search of all the hostels was carried out by an internal team comprising of a couple of coaches and a medical expert. “We had just completed dinner and had reached our rooms when this team swooped in our hostel and asked us to throw out any banned drugs that we might be carrying,” said one national camper. A boxer confirmed the raids inside the premises and stated that these were conducted in all hostels to ensure that there were no banned substances in any of the rooms. “The NIS management wants to be absolutely sure before any vigilance teams from the Sports Ministry or
the Sport Authority of India comes for a probe,” he added. Talking to The Tribune, NIS Executive Director L.S. Ranawat said that the raids were regular in nature and these things do happen often. “Till now, we have not found anything to substantiate claims that the sportspersons were using our premises for doping. If something of this nature comes to us, we would surely take action but I have not seen the report of the committee that carried search inside NIS,” he said. Inside sources further confirmed that a team comprising of senior SAI officials from New Delhi including Executive Director (Teams) P.C Kashyap and Project Officer (Teams) Satish Rana had a closed-door meeting with all the campers and their coaches on Monday and briefed them on the intake of
medicines. “We had briefed all these coaches and players to be careful with their supplement intake and issued instructions to the NIS officials to continue with their searches,” Kashyap told The Tribune. "More educational programmes for the trainers and campers would be held regularly." |
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Athletes told me they knowingly take banned drugs: Saina
Mumbai: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal today gave a stunning twist to the raging dope scandal by saying that many athletes and weightlifters had told her in the past that they knowingly consume banned drugs. "I also know many athletes and weightlifters who themselves tell me that ‘we take it’," Saina told reporters during a promotional event for Titan watches here.
India was rocked by doping scandal recently with eight top national athletes who got training in NIS failing dope tests. There were also reports that banned drugs were widely available in chemist shops near the national institute of Sport in Patiala. Asked if she was aware about the availability of banned drugs at medical stores, the world number six said, "I don't know whether it is available or not. I don't take it." Saina, however, felt that lack of awareness about medicines was the major reason behind athletes testing positive for banned drugs in the country. "It's really sad they don't know what they are taking. I'm sure everyone knows WADA rules, its very common. They have a website that mentions which medicines are banned and which are not. I think its just that they don't know. Many athletes and weightlifters are not very educated so whatever their coaches give, they take that," she said. The 21-year-old Hyderabadi said she consults her physiotherapist and doctors before taking any medicine and others too should do the same. "If I have, fever I ask my physio and doctor which medicines can be taken and which are banned. They should be very careful regarding everything," she said. — PTI |
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NIS top brass unmoved
Patiala, July 6 The institute, which is perhaps distinct in banning the entry of the media, has still made news, mostly for the wrong reasons. Recent controversies including the doping stigma on top eight Indian athletes who have got their major training at NIS and have been staying here, have once again failed to wake the top bosses in the National Capital to initiate action against the NIS top brass. In July 2008, with just three weeks to go for the Olympics, Indian sportspersons training at NIS had lashed out at all involved in organising the pre-Beijing camp. The wrestlers and pugilists undergoing camps had to adjust their training sessions according to the power schedule and in high moisture due to snags in the air coolers. Some time back, the quality of food and non-vegetarian diet provided at NIS was also under scrutiny. Players had then alleged that repeated reminders to the local NIS officials had been ineffective. Though the then Sports Minister M.S. Gill, had intervened and sorted out the problem, no heads rolled and no action was taken against anyone. In 2010, following allegations of sexual harassment against a weightlifting coach, though the concerned coach was sacked, no action was taken against the senior officials at NIS, where the coach was training the campers. Things are no different this time around, with the NIS administration ready to pass the buck. These offending athletes were training here for almost over a year and had claimed to have taken the substance here, but it took media reporting to make things move. Acting on the issue, the NIS management stated that they have sacked foreign coach Yuri Ogrodnik and the support staff. “We have recommended an FIR to the local police for action against chemists selling Schedule ‘H’ drugs and have carried out internal scrutiny of hostels inside NIS,” claimed NIS Executive Director L.S. Ranawat, posted at the institute since August 4, 2006. Rubbishing allegations pertaining to athletes claiming that since they were provided non vegetarian food only twice in a week, they moved out in search of better supplements, Ranawat stated that nothing of this sort was ever reported to him. “We have our own committee and it would give me a report on this but we have increased the number of doctors to three from the existing one,” he said. Stressing on the need of stricter punishment for all those who are involved in this scandal, IOA’s Anti-Doping Commission Chairman Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the matter is very serious and there is no point in sparing the staff attached with these athletes. “There should be a serious in-depth probe in the entire scam and involvement of everyone from top to bottom must be placed on record. Otherwise, our sporting culture would be in trouble,” he said.
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Coach directed not to leave country
Patiala, July 6 Talking to The Tribune, NIS Executive Director L.S. Ranawat confirmed that NIS sent a notice and Ogrodnik had been asked not to leave the country. “Yuri, who was looking after the training of 4x400m relay and 400m athletes, has been relieved. Now that the investigations are on, he has been asked to stay back till the inquiry is complete,” Ranawat added. When asked about the Ukrainian’s whereabouts, Ranawat said he had no idea, but Ogrodnik had called him up to confirm that he would stay back. “Though I asked him where he was but he did not respond,” Ranawat added. Giving details of the steps being taken by NIS to check doping, Ranawat said that the institute had issued a general circular to all the NIS officials and staff to be alert in every manner in order to ensure a drug-free sports environment. “Two additional doctors, one male and one female, have been appointed to ensure that players are given proper guidance regarding this menace. We have also lodged an FIR with the local police to initiate action against the local chemists who are selling the Schedule H drugs and steroids off the counter without prescription. “We will also hold special lecturers for elite sportspersons attending the National coaching camps, National coaches and the support staff to enlighten them about the drugs banned by WADA,” Ranawat added. Officials removed
Two Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials attached with the athletes training programme and other two women officials of the Elite Sports Women’s Hostel were removed today by NIS authorities. Though Ranawat refused to comment as to why they were sacked, he says it was necessary. “We cannot disclose the reason as of now but would certainly elaborate later,” he said. Yuri: Threat to my life in India
PTI adds: Sacked athletics coach Yuri Ogorodnik expressed fear for his life in India and defended himself by claiming that he did not play any role in the doping scandal that resulted in six of his trainees testing positive for banned substances. "I want to go home. If I stay here I will die. I don't want to die in India. Want to die in my country. I have always faced many problems here. I have not been eating or sleeping well," said Ogorodnik. |
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5 foreign coaches may be probed
New Delhi, July 6
But the foreign coaches are now proving to be a major liability after eight athletes, including six who were in the national camp, tested positive for banned substances. Maken had announced yesterday that coach of the gold-medal winning women’s relay team in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, Yuri Ogrodnik of Ukraine, has been ‘relieved’ when three golden girls - Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose and Mandeep Kaur - tested positive for dope in out-of-competition tests conducted by the International Association Athletics Federations and the National Anti-Doping Agency. “The guilty will be punished,” stated P.C. Kashyap, SAI Executive Director (Teams). “We will initiate action once the SAI DG returns to the Capital,” Kashyap told The Tribune here today. The other athletics coaches on the suspect list are Ukraine-born Anatoly Varda (men’s 400m and 4x400m) and Levgen Nikitin (high jump), couple Alexander Artsybaskev of Russia (walk) and Shvilli Evegene of Uzbekistan (jumps) and Nikolai Snesarev of Belarus. Snesarev has been instrumental in helping distance runners Kavita Raut and Preeja Sridharan strike medals in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Meanwhile, Jose, Jauna Murmu and Tiana Mary Thomas turned up at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) at the Nehru Stadium for a test of their ‘B’ samples, after the A samples had tested positive. The Athletics Federation of India said it was ready to co-operate with the probe panel set up by the Sports Ministry to inquire in to the dope scandal and help in getting to the bottom of the scourge.
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India’s tour of west indies
3rd test: day 1
Roseau (Dominica), June 6 Scoreboard Barath b Ishant 12 Powell c Laxman b Praveen 3 Edwards c Dhoni b Ishant 6 Bravo not out 17 Chanderpaul not out 11 Extras (b 8, lb 7) 15 Total (3 wkts; 28 ovrs) 64 Bowling: Praveen 8-2-8-1, Ishant 8-1-23-2, Munaf 6-3-5-0, Harbhajan 4-1-10-0, Raina 2-1-3-0.
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Rathour aims to take Punjab high
Chandigarh, June 6 Former India opener Rathour has now taken over as coach of the State Ranji Trophy team from this season onwards. “I share a very good rapport with both Yuvraj and Harbhajan,” Rathour told The Tribune from Jalandhar. “I have played a lot with them in the past. I have spoken to them and they have assured me that they will come to the camp whenever they can find time.” “They will come and motivate the young players. We have some very talented young players in the team and we want to give them all an extended run, free from pressure and I’m sure the Ranji team can get back to the top,” says the new coach. Punjab has won the Ranji Trophy just once (in 1993) and Rathour was an integral part of that team. “We had a group of very committed players back then. This is what I will be trying to create here as well - a group of committed players. Players like Uday Kaul, Mandeep Singh, Rahul Sharma and Manpreet Gony are all very talented. They have to be put on the right path, that’s all,” feels Rathour, who recently had a coaching stint with King’s XI Punjab. Rathour quit first-class cricket in 2003 and went to England to take care of his family business. But now he’s back doing something he always wanted to do. “Even when I was playing and was captain of Punjab team, I used to help young players sort out their little technical troubles. So I guess it’s just a natural progression. I like doing this thing. It comes naturally to me,” explains Rathour. “I haven’t yet discussed how many years I will be the coach here. But I have the support of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). We know that to form a core group of players, it will take about 3-4 years. I’m willing to give these youngsters that much time. They have to keep doing the right things and slowly the team will get there.” A preliminary Ranji Trophy camp is scheduled to begin at the PCA Stadium in Mohali next week and that’s where Rathour will get a good idea of the pool of players at his disposal. “I think all this talk in the past of giving more chances to players of a particular region is quite baseless. I can like a player from Jalandhar, but ultimately he has to score runs or take wickets. That’s what I believe in. If you get the job done, you deserve to be in the team. Not because you are from this or that place. That doesn’t matter,” says Rathour candidly. He is confident that the players will respond to his style of coaching and he certainly knows a thing or two about the game. The Punjab Ranji Trophy team can benefit a lot from Rathour’s experience.
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Archers earn four Olympic slots
New Delhi, July 6 This feat was achieved for the first time in Indian archery. The Indian women’s recurve team recorded commendable victories over world champions Korea in the semi-final. Archery Association of India president Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who is also the president of the Indian Olympic Association, congratulated the archers for their ‘historic feat’. “It was a really wonderful performance by the Indian contingent and the women recurve team deserves special appreciation because of their commendable victory over world champions Korea. The stunning performance of Jayanta Taludkar was also highly praiseworthy,” Malhotra said.
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New Delhi, July 6 Jasveer, a former national champion beat Iran's Olympian boxer Mohammad Shourain 20-12 today, while Santhosh got the better of Japan's Katsuaki Susa 15-7 late last night. With this, the total number of medals assured for India has gone up to three after the 18-year-old Gaurav Bidhuri entered the semifinals of light fly weight 49kg division yesterday. However, it was curtains for South Asian Games gold-medallist Chhote Lal Yadav who lost the bantam weight 56kg quarterfinals 13-14 to China's Xu Bia Xiang after a thrilling contest. "All the boxers fought really well. Jasveer was particularly impressive and even though Chhote lost his bout, he gave it his all. Santhosh is a proven performer and he did not disappoint," said team's coach Jagdeep Hooda. Jasveer was locked 4-4 with Shourain in the opening three minutes before he took a slender one-point lead of 8-7 in the second round. The final round belonged to the Indian, who said the bout left him completely exhausted. — PTI
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Indian swimmers win gold, miss Olympic berth
New Delhi, July 6 Khade won the gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle events clocking 23.21 and 51.08 seconds. Khade added three bronzes in the 200m freestyle (1:52.54), 100m butterfly (55.37) and in the 400m freestyle relay. Sejwal was impressive as he made podium finishes in all the events in which he took part. The 22-year-old from Delhi won the gold in his pet event, 50m breaststroke, with a timing of 29.10 seconds, and in the 100m breaststroke where he clocked 1:03.72. He ended his winning streak in Singapore with a silver in the 200m breastroke (2:17.50). The two swimmers still have a chance of making it to London as more qualifying rounds are scheduled this year. — IANS
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Mumbai: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal today gave a stunning twist to the raging dope scandal by saying that many athletes and weightlifters had told her in the past that they knowingly consume banned drugs. "I also know many athletes and weightlifters who themselves tell me that ‘we take it’," Saina told reporters during a promotional event for Titan watches here.
Patiala, July 6
Roseau (Dominica), June 6
Chandigarh, June 6
The raids on the drug stores were ordered by Punjab Health Minister Satpal Gosain. A Health Department team, comprising of three drug inspectors from three districts, conducted the raids on 11 drug stores in the city and seized steroids and banned drugs from three outlets. The seizure included Decadurabalin, Decadac 25, Menaobol and other steroids. The records of other shops were not found in order.
Sports Minister Ajay Maken had announced on March 3 that around Rs 260 crore would be earmarked for the preparation of the Indian athletes for the Olympics, code-named ‘Operation Excellence London’, out of which Rs 20 crore (7.7 per cent of the total budget), would be spent on the 28 foreign coaches and support staff, who will be tasked to chart the golden Olympic course.