Commonwealth Games: Indian contingent under scanner at Gold Coast
The Commonwealth Games hasn't even kicked off and Indian athletes are being investigated after syringes were found at their accommodation in Australia. The syringes were brought to the notice of the authorities by a cleaner. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive David Grevemberg said that the confiscated syringes will now be analyzed.
CGF has no needle policy
"CGF medical commission responded to report from a cleaner of the presence of needles in the athletes' accommodation in the Games village. Under the 2018 Commonwealth Games anti-doping standard, no-needle policy applies to athletes for the entire Games period, unless under approved exemptions" Grevemberg said.
India deny any wrong doing
India have denied any wrongdoing and further claimed that the syringes did not belong to them. The Commonwealth Games will kick off from Wednesday and Grevemberg said that they will remain stringent about the "no-needles" policy and the federation has "zero tolerance" for doping. Grevemberg, however, did not reveal if athletes at the accommodation would undergo any drug tests.
Team manager says needles found in the common area
India's team manager Ajay Narang confidently stated that the needles don't belong to the Indian contingent and they were found inside a water bottle in the common area. The Indian Olympic Association is not surprised by the incident because similar episodes took place during the Rio Olympics and the 2014 CWG in Glasgow.
Indian team manager denies any wrongdoing
"One of my guys reported that to us. I had a look and could see these were syringes. As a good citizen, I immediately went to the Medical Commission office for analysis and disposal. We didn't open the bottle at all." Narang concluded.
Anti doping programme to held at CWG
Since Glasgow Games, the CGF has enforced a no-needle police and only those who are undoing treatment can use syringes. An anti-doping programme will be held at the Games from April 4 to 15 and will be conducted by the CGF with assistance from the ASADA. WADA will also send a team to monitor the anti-doping programme.
