MILKHA CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST DOPE OFFENDERS

Lamenting the widespread use of steroids in modern day sport, legendary sprinter Milkha Singh said on Wednesday that the government should take strict measures to curb the menace.

According to Milkha, action should be taken against coaches of erring athletes since their wards indulge in doping with their full knowledge.

“Doping is like cancer. If you visit the changing rooms or bathrooms of the athletes you will find syringes. They know that if they dope then they will have more strength. To stop this menace, it is important that the government takes some strict measures,” the 86- yearold said here.

“The government needs to sack the coaches and doctors of the athletes as it is not possible to dope without th e i r kn o w l - edge. It is a sh a m e for the parents and the country as a whole and needs to be dealt with firmly,” he added.

Milkha said he was deeply pained after missing a medal during the 1960 Rome Olympics. He now wants to see an Indian winning an Olympic gold in athletics before he breathes his last.

“I ran in Olympics in 1960. It has been 55 years since, still we could not produce another Milkha out of the 120 crore people of India. Before I die, I want to see an Indian winning an Olympic gold in athletics which slipped out of my fingers,” he said.

“I ran in 80 international races and won in 77. But I failed to win that Olympic medal in Rome. I had cried like hell that night. I had wasted 12- 13 years of my hard work. It was my and my country’s bad luck.”