Anti-Doping raids conducted in several cities

TRIVUNANTHPURAM: Fourth raid of the month by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) conducted as a surprise check at the PT Usha School of Athletics at Kozhikode, Kerala, on Friday.

A NADA team, headed by senior project officer V Jayraman raided the academy rooms and collected urine samples of six athletes for dope testing. There were no supplements found in any of the rooms, which were searched.

Also earlier in this month NADA had conducted surprise checks at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala and Sports Authority of India’s centres at Bangalore and Bhopal.

Experts from NADA also conducted a detailed session of awareness on doping with the athletes and coaches.

NADA director general Rahul Bhatnagar read a statement of NADA, “The team reached the Institute at 12pm and checked rooms of athletes for banned substances and also took urine samples on a random basis. A total of six urine samples were collected which will be brought to Delhi for testing. No food supplements were found in the rooms.”

“A programme for education and awareness is being drawn up for sportspersons in Kerala in view of the forthcoming National Games, which includes printing and distribution of educational material in Malayalam,” he added.

NADA said that it will continue its drive against the doping menace in the country and more surprise checks will be conducted at centres where the athletes are training.

However, results of samples collected from Patiala and Bangalore have been out and none of them have returned positive while the results of those collected from Bhopal are awaited.