Needle row: Doc escapes with reprimand

Gold Coast, April 3: India’s boxers on Tuesday escaped major sanction for the use of syringes at the Commonwealth Games Village by their doctor Amol Patil, who was reprimanded for not disposing the needles as per stipulated procedure.

Hearing a complaint filed by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s medical commission, the CGF court ruled that Patil had erred in not disposing the syringes as mandated by the ‘ no needle policy’ of the Games.

Patil had administered a Vitamin B complex injection to a sick athlete.

“Under the ‘ no needle policy’, needles are required to be stored in a central secured location, access to which is restricted to authorised medical personnel of the CGA delegation. The needles in question were not disposed of until he had made two trips to the polyclinic,” the CGF said in a statement.

“In the circumstances, the federation court’s decision is that CGF should issue a strong written reprimand to the doctor for his breaches.”

MARY KOM A WIN AWAY FROM MEDAL

M. C. Mary Kom needs to win just one bout to secure herself a medal, while Vikas Krishan got a bye into the men’s pre- quarterfinals as Indian boxers were handed favourable draws in the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.

Mary has been pitted against Scotland’s Megan Gordon in the quarter- finals of the 48kg category, which will take place on Sunday. Competing in her first and last Commonw- ealth Games, the 35- year- old is the favourite to claim the gold in a draw that features only eight boxers.

Vikas ( 75kg) is in the last16 with a bye along with debutant Manish Kaushik ( 60kg). Satish Kumar (+ 91kg) also received a bye into the quarter- finals.

Pinki Jangra ( 51kg) is another one in the quarterfinals and will be up against England’s Lisa Whiteside on April 11.

Manoj Kumar ( 69kg) will open India’s boxing campaign against Nigeria’s Osita Umeh.

L. Sarita Devi ( 60kg) begins against Kimberely Gittens, while Amit Panghal ( 49kg) faces Ghana’s Tette Sulemanu.

Hearing a complaint, the Commonwealth Games Federation court ruled that Patil had erred in not disposing the syringes as mandated by the ‘ no needle policy’ of the Games