Now, tennis players under Nada ambit

New Delhi, Oct. 2: The National Anti-Doping Agency has, for the first time, collected samples from close to 20 tennis players competing at the National Tennis Championships at the DLTA Complex here. 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.

A few players were asked to provide samples before their matches began while others provided samples after the 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 said on Tuesday.

Not only at the national championships, the Nda has tested top Indian players in and out of competitions in international circuits this year too. Asiad bronze medallist Ankita Raina and top men’s singles player Yuki Bhambri said 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. Worla Anti-Doping Agency also checks two-three times a year,” said Ankita. “I have provided samples to Nada officials both in and out of competition this year. On the ATP circuit, it happens regularly,” said Bhambri.

While doping is still not as big an issue in the Indian tennis arena as the age fraud but it still, is a welcome step.