GOLDEN No appeal from India on needle issue: CGF

Gold Coast: The Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday said India had not appealed against the sending back of two athletes from the ongoing Games here for violating the ‘no needle policy’.

Addressing the media in his daily briefing, CGF chief executive David Grevemberg said the suspension of race walker K.T. Irfan and triple jumper V. Rakesh Babu had not been challenged despite the Indian contingent’s claims of pushing for an appeal.

“I have not received an appeal, and such an appeal would go through the Court of Arbitration, Court of Sport. Regardless of the needle, there is a no needle policy. There is a clear policy, there was a breach of that policy and this isn’t an isolated case (involving India), as we all know,” Grevemberg said when asked about further developments in the matter.

A source in the Indian contingent added the country had indeed not yet appealed and was weighing legal options before taking such a step.

“The recommendation is for an appeal but we have to seek proper legal opinion before going ahead with it. It can’t be rushed otherwise it will fall apart,” an official said.

Irfan and Babu were sent home on Sunday after their explanation for having syringe in their room was declared “evasive and unreliable” by the CGF court. — PTI