JOIN USDoping virus lays athletes, wrestlers low
Wrestlers Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg) and Rajiv Tomar (120kg), who were named in the Commonwealth Games squad in men’s freestyle, and Gursharanpreet Kaur (women’s 72kg) tested positive for Methyl Hexaneamine, a non-specified substance. Two other wrestlers, Joginder Singh and Rahul Mann, who are not in the team, also failed dope tests.
“The wrestlers from Commonwealth Games team have tested positive for Methyl Hexaneamine as per the report received from NADA,” a statement from Wrestling Federation of India President G S Mander said.
Tomar was recently conferred with the Arjuna Award. Saurav and young discus thrower Akash Antil tested positive for the same substance Methyl Hexaneamine in the dope tests conducted during the National Inter-State Championships at Patiala from August 5-8.
“As per the report received from National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), the athletes Saurav Vij and Akash Antil found positive in the dope test conducted during National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships held at Patiala from 5th to 8th August 2010,” a statement from AFI said.
NADA immediately put them under provisional suspension pending a hearing. “The results reveal that six wrestlers and two athletes have tested positive for banned substance Methyl Hexaneamine. In accordance with World Anti Doping Rules, the eight sportspersons have been ‘provisionally suspended’ on September 1, 2010 by NADA.
Wrestling Federation of India and Athletic Federation of India have been informed accordingly,” NADA said in a statement.
“As per the WADA Rules, these athletes will appear before Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel headed by a retired Sessions Judge, who will after a fair hearing adjudicate their case and decide on the sanction to be given to them,” NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar said in the statement.
Delhi-boy Saurav was named along with Om Prakash in India’s Commonwealth Games athletics squad but now he is unlikely to feature in the multi-sporting event in his home city. Haryana lad Antil was not among the Commonwealth Games Core Group. Vij had won a silver at the Patiala meet with a putt of 19.91 metres.
A red-faced Wrestling Federation of India announced the dope-tainted wrestlers removal from the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games.“Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74kg), Anil Mann (96kg), Praveen (120kg) — all men’s freestyle — and woman wrestler Anshu Tomar (72kg) have been named as replacement,” Mander said.
India had named 21 wrestlers and 90 athletes, the biggest ever, for the Commonwealth Games.