The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was seen fearing the presence of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) among the athletes on the last day of the State Athletics Championship (September 23-26) at the warm-up track of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. On Tuesday, September 27, the athletes fled the spot after seeing the anti-doping agency officials.
A day earlier, a video clip of syringes scattered in the stadium washroom had surfaced. After this, news of the presence of NADA officials in the stadium spread and the number of participants reduced by half.
The circumstances were such that only one athlete, Lalit Kumar, participated in the 100m men’s final. In the junior steeplechase, an athlete continued to run even after crossing the finish line. An official ran up to him and took his sample. Many winners did not attend the medal ceremony as NADA officials can ask for samples for dope tests.
Girl continued to run even after crossing the finish line
A senior coach told The Indian Express, “There were eight finalists in the track event, but only three or four came on Tuesday.” In the junior steeplechase event, a girl continued to run even after crossing the finish line. Samples were sent. Doping control officer. Had to chase her to get her.”
Only Lalit Kumar competed in the men’s 100m final.
Lalit Kumar was the only athlete to compete in the men’s 100m final. He said the other seven runners did not come to him saying they were suffering from “cramps” or “muscle strain”. This was Lalit Kumar’s first senior-level event. For him, the sudden disappearance of his fellow competitors was a surprise.
“I was really looking forward to racing against the best athletes, but no one came. Everyone was afraid of the test. As an athlete, I was very sad and disappointed,” he told The Indian Express.
The number of participants dropped to 50 per cent as NADA officials arrived.
“This is the first time I have seen a 100m event with only one participant,” said an official associated with the sport for three decades. “As soon as NADA officials arrived, the number of participants had come down to 50 per cent.” Only three finalists appeared in the under-20 boys’ 100m final. Only one competitor took part in the under-16 boys’ hammer throw.
Some players did not even come to collect their medals
Delhi State Athletics Association president Sunny Joshua said, “Some players did not even come to collect their medals. Our job is to educate athletes and coaches, but we cannot constantly monitor what they do during practice or have their backs on us. “What are you doing behind? Doping is a big threat in athletics, and we are strictly against it.”
Performance-enhancing drug injection packets found in the washroom
Meanwhile, empty packets of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) injection were found in the washroom on Tuesday. It is used as a performance-enhancing drug. Sports medicine expert Dr. PSM Chandran said, “This drug is used to treat anemia, but chemists do not care about it, and athletes easily get it over the counter.
