Indian syringe probe

Boxers sent for tests after raid finds needles

SYRINGES linked to India’s Commonwealth Games team were yesterday sent for urgent lab tests to determine if they had been used for doping.

Gold Coast Games chiefs vowed to show no mercy to cheats after a cleaner discovered the syringes in the athletes’ village where Indian athletes are staying.

Officials would not confirm if the discovery was made inside an athlete’s room.

The Indian team manager, however, gave a different version of events — claiming team members found the needles in a water bottle on a nearby path and handed them in “as a good citizen”.

Early reports suggested the controversy could involve cyclists but Indian media organisations later quoted “well- placed sources” that 12 boxers had been taken for drug testing.

Officials yesterday declared there would be “zero tolerance” on cheating and were awaiting a report from the medical clinician on the contents of the syringes.

The scandal has also exposed flaws in airport-style checks on athletes and officials entering the village.

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s anti-doping policy includes a ban on syringes inside the village unless the athlete has a medical exemption for conditions such as diabetes.

An unnamed Indian official told The Indian Express a team doctor had admitted to having the syringe but denied any wrongdoing.

“Following the raid and seizure of the syringe, all Indian boxers were taken for dope tests on Saturday. The results are expected in a day or two and depending on that, the organisers will decide if any disciplinary action is warranted,” the official said.

The Times of India also quoted an unnamed official, who claimed there would be no further investigation and the team had found the syringes and handed them over.

“It’s unfair that we are being doubted. We acted in good faith,” the official said.

Indian team manager Ajay Narang also insisted his athletes’ only involvement had been handing in the syringes to officials after finding them in a water bottle. “One of my guys reported that to us. I had a look and could see these were syringes,” Narang said.

“I immediately went to the Medical Commission office for analysis and disposal. We didn’t open the bottle at all.”