Doping: NADA to come out with mass awareness drive
PUNE: Whenever the issue of doping is discussed in Indian sports, athletes either say they were not aware about the banned substance or they blame the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) for the failure of their tests.
To ensure that athletes are up to date with the anti-doping rules, NADA is coming out with a mass awareness programme.
“Doping in India has gone down at the national level from three to two per cent in the last two years. (But) young and budding athletes needs to be made aware about doping,” said NADA director-general Navin Agarwal during an anti-doping athletes’ awareness programme, which is being organised alongside the Khelo India Youth Games.
In 2017, during the Khelo India School Games, NADA had conducted 377 tests in which 12 athletes were found positive. “Last year, most athletes complained that they were not aware about banned substances. This year, we have made it compulsory for organisers to hold a mass awareness drive. In the last two days, more than 700 athletes have been part of the programme,” added Agarwal. Till now NADA have conducted 19 tests in various sports like judo, weightlifting and wrestling.
“About 400 tests will be conducted during the Khelo India Youth Games. Previously, we used to conduct tests in select disciplines but this time we will conduct tests on athletes in every sport,” said Agarwal.
No-needle policy, which was strictly implemented during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, is not being implemented at the Khelo India Games.
“NADA and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) don’t take call on no-needle policy. It is the organisers who decide on its implementation,” added Agarwal. Asled why generic names of medicines were not disclosed on NADA’S website. “Any doctor will help you if you show him the name of the substance. He can give you medicine accordingly but we cannot name the medicine as question of favouritism arises if we name a few,” said Agarwal.