NEW DELHI: The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has targeted tennis for the first time in India as it collected samples from nearly 20 players participating in the ongoing National Tennis Championships in the capital city, Press Trust of India reports.
Players such as top seed Arjun Kadhe, Siddhant Banthia, Ishaque Eqbal and former Under-14 champion Ajay Malik were among those who were randomly picked to give blood and urine samples on Monday before or after their matches.
“We had created a new system early this year where risk assessment, across the sports, was done. On the scientific basis of that, we worked out the test distribution plan. We identified which are the tournaments where we have to conduct test and this event came in that list, so we sent officials,” NADA chief Navin Agarwal was quoted as saying to PTI.
The NADA also took it upon itself to test top Indian players in and out of competitions in international circuits this year too. Asian Games bronze medallist Ankita Raina and top men’s singles player Yuki Bhambri confirmed to PTI that they were asked by NADA to provide whereabout details and they were tested.
“I had given them six-week programme before and after the Asian Games. WADA also checks 2-3 times a year,” Raina commented.
“I have provided samples to NADA officials both in and out of competition this year. On the ATP circuit, it happens regularly,” said Bhambri.
All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary general, Hironmy Chatterjee said that NADA has become “very active” this year. Chatterjee mentioned legend Leander Paes’ father, Dr. Vece Paes’ contribution to guide them in annual workshops but believes that the onus eventually lies with the players rather their reliance on guidance.
“We have with us very experienced Dr Vece Paes, who guides coaches and players at many workshops during the year.”, he said.
However, coaches counter Chatterjee’s claim by saying that the governing body needs to do more to make them and players aware of banned substances since they aren’t expected to know it by themselves.
“When I did my AITA level V course in 2013, I don’t think we were made aware of anti-doping issues. I don’t have a medicine background, so I won’t know if such and such pain killer can be given to my ward or not. There should be an awareness programme,” said a coach, whose ward provided a sample.
“If any of the kid’s test returns positive here, it would be because of lack of awareness rather than deliberate doping,” he said.
In the coaching certification programmes, conducted by the AITA, anti-doping syllabus starts from only AITA Level-III and not much apart from basic points is conveyed. The Level-IV and V courses have comprehensive syllabus on anti-doping matters. Nar Singh, AITA coaching programme’s head, said they will now try to tweak the syllabus.
“We will sit and discuss about making a few changes to our syllabus at the beginners’ level. Now that government and NADA have become very active in our sport also, we need to do it,” Singh said.
The combined syllabus of AITA Level III and IV is equal to ITF Level I coaching and AITA Level V is equal to ITF Level II. There are about 3000 certified ITF Level I coaches in India and a mere 100 ITF Level II coaches. The number is very less, considering that lakhs of players are learning the sport across the country at various academies and centres.
