Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) A zero tolerance attitude will be adopted to check doping in the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games here, chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent Bhubaneswar Kalita said Thursday and stressed that strict anti-doping measures were in place.
“There will be zero tolerance when it comes to doping. There will be no compromise whatsoever,” Kalita told reporters here when asked if any special measures were being taken to check doping in the Indian contingent.

“Both the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have put strong systems in place. Officials of both NADA and WADA are visiting various training spots (of Indian players),” he said.

The chef-de-mission’s comments come in the wake of six Indian wrestlers, two athletes and two swimmers testing positive for use of the banned substances just ahead of the quadrennial event. The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) is, however, planning to make a case for leniency for the two swimmers, who, otherwise, have a clean past record.

According to Kalita, who is also vice president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), both NADA and WADA have worked hard to create awareness about doping in sports.

“Enough has been done by NADA and WADA to create awareness (about doping) among the players, including distribution of literature,” he said.

“The name of any player who tests positive for use of banned substances will not find mention on the list of the Indian contingent,” the chef-de-mission asserted.