Dope scandal: Chemists shops outside National Institute of Sports raided

Hours after Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's assurance to take stern action, the officials of health department of the state on Wednesday raided about a dozen shops located near the National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala.

A team of officials of health department from three districts of the state swooped on 11 chemists shops outside the NIS, Drug Inspector Jatinder Singh said. He said that the officials seized steroids and other banned drugs for sportsmen from three shops. Necessary action was taken against the three chemists, he added.

Earlier today, the Punjab state government had promised to take stern measures against the chemist shops located near the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala in the wake of the recent dope scandal that has rocked the sporting fraternity.

Sukhbir Singh Badal had told reporters here that the action was taken amidst reports that athletes can freely procure drugs from these outlets.

"The licences of all shops guilty of selling banned drugs will be cancelled and criminal action under law would be taken against erring chemists," he added.

It has been learnt that all the chemist shops that sell anabolic steroids to the athletes are strategically located outside the NIS centre.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Satpal Gosain ordered cancellation of licenses and registration of criminal cases against owners of three shops found selling banned steroids without prescription.

Eight national athletes who got training in NIS had failed in doping test.

"The raids were conducted on 11 shops and steroids were found in three shops where as records of other shops was not found in order," an official spokesman said here.