It seems Indian boxers have found themselves on the wrong side of the law after syringes were discovered outside their rooms just days before the Commonwealth Games (CWG) are to begin. CWG has a ‘no-needle policy’ in order to curb any wrongdoing. The needles were discovered by a cleaner near where the team’s boxers are staying.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO David Grevemberg, in a press conference at Gold Coast, said the CGF initiated an investigation into the matter but did not name India as the target of the probe.
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Grevemberg said the CGF was in talks with the concerned Commonwealth Games Association amid the spiralling speculations that Indian boxers are the ones who are under the scanner in this case. The Games are due to start on April 5 after the opening ceremony on April 4.
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“That CGA has now been summoned to engage in a meeting with our medical commission later today (Monday, 2 April),” Grevemberg said.
The Indian contingent has been insistent that there has been no wrongdoing on its part.
BREAKING:
Indian boxers leave a doping needle in the Commonwealth Games village
You don’t get reverse swing by injecting the ball with steroids you clowns.https://t.co/o71IFpbfrf
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After claiming that the syringes found could have belonged to other teams who are staying in the same compound of the Games village, a top official today confirmed that the discovery made was indeed that from an Indian player but denied any doping violation.
“There has been no doping violation because the syringe had been used to inject multi-vitamins. The boxers have been tested and had there been a violation, we would have known by now,” a top official in the Indian contingent told PTI.
“We are now waiting for what the CGF decides,” he added.
The CGF CEO, meanwhile, said sanctions would be placed depending on the explanations put forth by the concerned unidentified Commonwealth Games Association.
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“The report (of the medical commission) will include the testimony of the concerned CGA and that will be put forward to our federation court for further deliberation to determine the appropriate sanction.”
Games organising committee chairman Peter Beattie insisted that the matter would be dealt transparently.
“There will be transparency and nothing will be covered up,” he said.
The CGF’s ‘no needle policy’ prohibits the administration of injections without strong medical support. The policy is relaxed only for athletes requiring prescribed medication or nutritional supplements under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
However, the CGF insists that athletes should take prior permissions before administering injections, failing which can result in unspecified sanctions.
