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Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal on Wednesday gave a stunning twist to the raging dope scandal by saying that many athletes and weightlifters had told her in the past that they knowingly consume banned drugs.
“I also know many athletes and weightlifters who themselves tell me that “we take it”,” Saina told reporters during a promotional event in Mumbai.
Asked if she was aware about the availability of banned drugs at medical stores, the world number six said, “I don’t know whether it is available or not. I don’t take it.”
Saina, however, felt that lack of awareness about medicines was the major reason behind athletes testing positive for banned drugs in the country.
“It’s really sad they don’t know what they are taking. I’m sure everyone knows WADA rules, its very common.
“They have a website which mentions which medicines are banned and which are not. I think its just that they don’t know. Many athletes and weightlifters are not very educated so whatever their coaches give they take that,” she said.
The 21-year-old Hyderabadi said she consults her physiotherapist and doctors before taking any medicine and others too should do the same.
“If I have fever I ask my physio and doctor which medicines can be taken and which are banned. They should be very careful regarding everything,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of India said that it was ready to cooperate with the probe panel set up by the sports ministry and help in getting to the bottom of the menace.
The AFI came under severe criticism after eight athletes, including Asian Games double gold medallist Ashwini Akkunji and her gold medal winning 4x400 relay teammates Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, flunked dope tests for anabolic steroids and it said it agreed to the “six point” decision taken by Sports Minister Ajay Maken.
“The federation is ready to fully cooperate with the probe panel set up by the Sports Minister to go into the bottom of the scandal. We fully agree to the six point decision taken by the minister,” AFI Director M L Dogra said.
Dogra said the AFI is yet to get any written intimation from the sports minister to submit a report on the scandal but said the federation will comply.
“We have also instituted our internal inquiry on the doping episode. The three-member committee will submit preliminary report within a month and final report within three months,” he said.
Dogra also said that sacked Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogrodnik is not leaving the country soon nor was he in hiding, as reported by some of the media.Meanwhile, three athletes, Sini Jose, Jauna Murmu and Tiana Mary Thomas, turned up at the National Dope Test Laboratory here for their ‘B’ sample test on Wednesday.
ministry removes Sidhu & three othersThe government sacked four SAI officials in the wake of the doping scandal. The sacked officials include Indian coach R S Sidhu and two women of Elite Sports Women’s hostel.
“Sidhu has been asked to report back to SAI Jalandhar Centre, where he was posted,” a ministry official said.
As per sources, another Indian coach, Ramesh Nagapuri, has also been removed.
“I also know many athletes and weightlifters who themselves tell me that “we take it”,” Saina told reporters during a promotional event in Mumbai.
Asked if she was aware about the availability of banned drugs at medical stores, the world number six said, “I don’t know whether it is available or not. I don’t take it.”
Saina, however, felt that lack of awareness about medicines was the major reason behind athletes testing positive for banned drugs in the country.
“It’s really sad they don’t know what they are taking. I’m sure everyone knows WADA rules, its very common.
“They have a website which mentions which medicines are banned and which are not. I think its just that they don’t know. Many athletes and weightlifters are not very educated so whatever their coaches give they take that,” she said.
The 21-year-old Hyderabadi said she consults her physiotherapist and doctors before taking any medicine and others too should do the same.
“If I have fever I ask my physio and doctor which medicines can be taken and which are banned. They should be very careful regarding everything,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of India said that it was ready to cooperate with the probe panel set up by the sports ministry and help in getting to the bottom of the menace.
The AFI came under severe criticism after eight athletes, including Asian Games double gold medallist Ashwini Akkunji and her gold medal winning 4x400 relay teammates Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, flunked dope tests for anabolic steroids and it said it agreed to the “six point” decision taken by Sports Minister Ajay Maken.
“The federation is ready to fully cooperate with the probe panel set up by the Sports Minister to go into the bottom of the scandal. We fully agree to the six point decision taken by the minister,” AFI Director M L Dogra said.
Dogra said the AFI is yet to get any written intimation from the sports minister to submit a report on the scandal but said the federation will comply.
“We have also instituted our internal inquiry on the doping episode. The three-member committee will submit preliminary report within a month and final report within three months,” he said.
Dogra also said that sacked Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogrodnik is not leaving the country soon nor was he in hiding, as reported by some of the media.Meanwhile, three athletes, Sini Jose, Jauna Murmu and Tiana Mary Thomas, turned up at the National Dope Test Laboratory here for their ‘B’ sample test on Wednesday.
ministry removes Sidhu & three othersThe government sacked four SAI officials in the wake of the doping scandal. The sacked officials include Indian coach R S Sidhu and two women of Elite Sports Women’s hostel.
“Sidhu has been asked to report back to SAI Jalandhar Centre, where he was posted,” a ministry official said.
As per sources, another Indian coach, Ramesh Nagapuri, has also been removed.
