Double dope tests for India’s CWG-bound athletes | Commonwealth Games News
NEW DELHI: Indian athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Glasgow underwent two rounds of dope testing before their departure as part of stringent measures to ensure a clean campaign, TOI has learnt. Athletes training overseas were also tested through coordination between the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) in their host countries.The exercise was part of the govt’s efforts to prevent any doping-related incidents during the July 23-Aug 2 Games. Besides NADA, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and the relevant national sports federations (NSFs) closely monitored the athletes, who were also briefed on their anti-doping rights and responsibilities.The heightened vigilance followed recent setbacks, particularly in weightlifting, where national campers N Ajith, Sairaj Pardeshi, Harcharan Singh and Vanshita Verma tested positive for prohibited substances ahead of the Games. The positive tests reduced India’s weightlifting entries from 16 to 12.India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of doping offenders in recent years and has been classified as a high-risk nation by the AIU. The sports ministry cleared a contingent comprising 126 athletes, 51 officials and 14 contingent staff on July 9.
