Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Stung by the sudden spurt in doping cases, Sports Minister Ajay Maken Tuesday announced the sacking of Ukranian coach Yuri Ogorobonik, who trained six of the eight Indian athletes tested positive for banned substances.

The minister, talking to media persons, promised a thorough probe into the entire scandal by a panel headed by either a retired Delhi High Court judge or the chairman of the National Anti-Doping Authority’s disciplinary panel.

Maken right away ordered Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Desh Deepak Verma to probe the role of its officials and coaches in the episode that has shamed the country and asked him to submit a report within three days.

“The athletes have disgraced the whole nation and it’s very disturbing for us. They will get their punishment in the form of suspensions, bans and losing their medals, but we can’t let the coaches and any official involved in this episode get away scot-free,” Maken said.

“I have asked SAI to immediately terminate the contract of the foreign coach and have asked the SAI director general to find out the role of officials involved in the doping scandal - they could be coaches employed by SAI and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI),” Maken added.

The minister said former Delhi High Court judge Dinesh Dayal has been approached to head the inquiry committee and propose steps to curb the doping evil. If Dayal is not available, the chairman of the disciplinary panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) will head the panel.

“We have to find out how banned substances entered National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. Since these banned substances have been found on the NIS premises, there could be a connivance between athletes and officials,” Maken said.

Eight athletes have so far tested positive. They include three members of the women’s 4×400 metres relay team that won the gold medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Maken said that last month some of the athletes and Ogorobonik met him and requested him to arrange for a training at Yalta in Ukraine.

“I had told them that I would help them in every possible way to get the best training, but now I have my doubts about training there,” he said.

Asked if Ukraine’s credibility as India’s favourite training centre suffered, Maken said: “I don’t want to comment about a any country, but I have serious doubts on the coach’s role.”

Maken vowed that he will catch the coaches involved.

“We can’t be lenient. The coach says he didn’t know that the athletes were taking banned substances. Then I think he’s all the more responsible for what’s happened. The coach is supposed to know what they’re taking and tell them what to take,” he said.

Maken said since most of the athletes are illiterate or semi-literate, coaches should guide them as to what they are taking and what could be the consequences.

“The coaches have failed in their duty. After all, they are the ones who look at the players’ diet. I am not saying they have given them the substances, but even if they had not, they are squarely responsible for the current mess,” Maken said.

The sports minister also said he has asked the SAI to frequently change dope officers and increase the number of doctors at the NIS to three.

“Now we have just one doctor in NIS. I have asked SAI to increase the numbers of doctors and also provide a lady doctor,” he said.

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

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 last year. Ashiwini also won the gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the Asian Games.