NEW DELHI: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will implement a strict ‘no-needle’ policy across all national camps and training centres in India, PTI reports.
This move comes after two Indian athletes were sent home after being found in breach of the ‘no-needle’ policy at the recent Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The AFI is amongst the first national sports federations (NSFs) to declare a ‘no-needle’ policy, according to PTI.
“We have declared the ‘no-needle’ policy yesterday (Friday) and it has come into effect immediately. We have drawn up a two-page protocol to be distributed to all our athletes at all the national camps and training centres across the country,” AFI president Adille Sumirawalla toid the newswire.
“We are zero tolerant in matters related to use of banned drugs by athletes and we are the first NSF to declare a ‘no-needle’ policy in the country. We have intimated about this policy to Sports Authority of India also,” he added.
The move has been backed by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra, who said he would ask the Sports Ministry to implement the policy across all sports.
The AFI has authorized a 3-member committee of coaches to do a thorough checking of the athletes’ rooms. Chief coach Bahadur Singh will head the committee, while deputy chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair and the juniors’ chief coach Sanjay Garnaik are the other two members constituting the committee.
“This committee will be authorised to search the rooms of athletes and ensure the compliance of No-Needle’ policy of the AFI,” a circular issued on Friday said.
“All the coaches are requested to give it wide publicity amongst athletes so that nobody is in possession of needle or any forbidden substance. Strict action will be taken against those who are found violating this policy.”
Sumirawalla declared that from Saturday onwards, those athletes who require injections for genuine reasons, like for treatment of some illness, will need to do it at a designated place inside the campus which will be given by a designated team doctor during the AFI-run national camp.
“Now, needles are strictly prohibited inside the rooms of athletes. Otherwise, they will have to declare officially in advance and keep the needles in safe custody. In case, an athlete needs an injection to treat an illness or say he needs a vitamin injection, then he will have to show the prescription. The athlete will have to go to a designated place inside the camp to have that injection and that too will be done either by the team doctor or a doctor provided at the camp for that job,” the AFI president added.
