Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Thursday came down hard on coaches, suspending R.S. Sidhu and issuing notice to Ramesh Nagapuri, who were involved with the women’s 400 meters sprint team at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala. The two were assistants to Ukranian coach Yuri Ogrodnik, who was sacked after eight athletes tested positive for banned substances.

The steps were taken on the basis of report submitted to SAI director general Desh Deepak Verma by executive director P.S. Kahsyap, who conducted a detailed inquiry at NIS.

Weightlifting coach Naveen Kumar and gymnastics coach Praveen Kumar were also removed while resident doctor, M. Bhattacharya, was also issued notice.

The sports ministry has appointed Mukul Mudgal, retired chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as a one-member committee to enquire into the doping scandal. Mudgal would be assisted by V. Jayaramaan, senior project manager of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and will submit his report within six weeks.

Verma identified the two officials removed Wednesday as Sunita Bedi, caretaker of the girls’ hostel, and Kalpana Debnath, warden of the Silver Jubilee Girls’ Hostel.

“We have already sacked Yuri and a detailed inquiry is going on. We took the steps on the basis of report submitted by the SAI executive director. We have suspended Sodhi and a showcause notice will be served on Ramesh, currently with the Indian squad in Kobe for the Asian Athletics Championships,” said Verma.

The SAI director general said from now on steps will be taken against the entire team.

“We have decided that if an athlete tests positive, then action will be taken against the entire team to stem the rot that has set in. Our employees will now be more pro-active to tackle the menace,” he said.

Double Asian Games gold medallist Ashwini Akkunji, who was among the eight athletes to fail the dope test, took everybody by surprise at the Asian Games by making substantial improvement in her Commonwealth Games timing to win the 400 meters hurdles gold at Guangzhou.

Prior to the Commonwealth Games, the Indian team went on a training stint to Ukraine and now questions are being raised on the Eastern European country’s credibility as a training centre. Sacked coach Yuri Ogorodnik, who was attached with the 400 metres sprint team, also hails from Ukraine.

Verma said it would be unfair to blame a particular country but admitted that SAI could have been more vigilant before appointing the coach.

“It’s unfair to blame a particular country for this. What we can do from now on is to thoroughly check the credentials of coaches before appointing them,” he said.

Verma said that SAI has already prepared a detailed report on the doping scandal as ordered by Sports Minister Ajay Maken.

A sports ministry statement said the one-member committee will determine the facts and circumstances leading to the rampant incidents of alleged doping in athletics.

“It will also examine reasons for such large-scale prevalence of doping and modus operandi involved, including availability of the prohibited substances in and around training camps.”

Akkunji, who won 4×400 metres relay gold in the Commonwealth and the Asian Games, pleaded innocence and laid the blame squarely on the food supplements recommended by Ogorodnik.

“I am innocent and have never failed a dope test before this. We only took the food supplements recommended by our coach and only after consuming the supplements, we have been tested positive,” said Aswhini.

Ashiwni, along with Priyanka Pawar, appeared before NADA for her B sample test. She tested positive for banned anabolic steroid methandienone in out of competition tests conducted by the NADA in Patiala on June 27.

“It’s sad since I made many sacrifices during my career. I have never taken steroids in my entire career. It’s not the first time that I have given the dope test. Whenever NADA or WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) had called me, I have given the tests,” she said.

Ashwini said she was tested thrice during the Asian Games, where she won two gold medals, but never failed.

“During the Asian Games, three times we have been called for dope tests and we never failed. This thing has never happened before. We are totally innocent,” she added.