NADA collects samples at Bangalore camp
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Monday conducted searches and collected samples of urine, blood, medicines and food supplements from various athletes at the Sports Authority of India's Bangalore complex where around 100 athletes are under training.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Monday conducted searches and collected samples of urine, blood, medicines and food supplements from various athletes at the Sports Authority of India's Bangalore complex where around 100 athletes are under training.
"We have taken samples of the supplies kept in the store as well as in the rooms of the hostels. We have also collected random urine and blood samples of the athletes," V. Jayaram, a doctor leading the four-member NADA search team, told reporters.
He declined to give details as to number of urine and blood samples collected or the names of the athletes from whom they were taken.
The team searched rooms at hostels for men and women athletes, questioned them about the medicines and food supplements they take and had a look at the food supplied to them.
The NADA visit to the Bangalore complex of SAI came following the 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 conducted either out of competition or during an inter-state meet.
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 Ukranian coach Yuri Ogorobonik, who trained the six women athletes who have tested positive for banned substances.
NDTV adds: Judge Mukul Mudgal who has been appointed by the Sports Ministery to look into the doping issue told NDTV that he will meet the concerned athletes and take their statements on the matter. "I am concentrating on Patiala and Delhi now. I will be speaking to the concerned athletes and get their statement. Then I will speak to the officials at the NIS and only then will I prepare and submit my report in August," he said.