Thaindian News

Bangalore, July 11 (IANS) The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Monday collected blood and urine samples of 91 athletes and checked medicine and food supplements at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Bangalore complex where around 100 athletes are undergoing training.

“We have taken random samples of 91 athletes and sent for tests. We also collected samples of medicine and other supplies kept in the store as well as in the rooms of the hostels,” V. Jayaram, a doctor leading the four-member NADA search team, told reporters here.

He said 51 hostel rooms, including that of the four coaches, were searched at the complex near Kengeri on the outskirts of Bangalore.

The team questioned the men and women athletes about the medicines and food supplements they take and looked at the food supplied to them.

The NADA search at the Bangalore complex of SAI came following a major doping scandal that has hit Indian athletes, with eight athletes, including medal winners at last year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and Asian Games in China, testing positive for banned drugs.

On July 9, NADA raided the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala.

Quarter-milers Ashwini Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur, Sini Jose, Juana Murmu, Priyanka Pawar and Tiana Mary Thomas, shot-putter Sonia and men’s long-jumper Hari Krishnan Muralidharan have tested positive in dope tests.

Ashiwini, Mandeep and Sini were members of the famed women’s 4×400 metres relay team that won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Ashiwini also won the gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the Asian Games.

The doping scandal has led to sacking of Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogorodnik, who trained the six women athletes who have tested positive for banned substances.