Reports | 12 Khelo India athletes test positive for doping
Khelo India School Games has, reportedly, suffered by a doping scandal as 12 athletes from different games have failed the A sample test. Khelo India programme was the project started by the sports ministry for the budding sports talent of the country and to give them opportunities on the big stage.
The inaugural season of the Khelo India School Games was held this year in which players from all over the country participated in the 16 sports disciplines from January 31 to February 8. While the event was termed as a success by the ministry, the recent reports have raised questions over the anti-doping authorities because as many as 12 players have been found positive in the dope test.
As per the report of the TOI, 12 athletes from different disciplines like wrestling, boxing, gymnastics, judo, volleyball, and athletics, couldn’t pass the A sample test, which led to the sincerity of the anti-doping authorities who were given the responsibility to reduce the doping scandals at the school and college level. It has been reported that some of those who have returned positive for prohibited drugs have also taken high-end substances like mephentermine and stanozolol which are both classified as anabolic steroids.
After testing the samples, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has duly charged the athletes. However, incidentally, all of them were medal winners during the U-17 school-level competition.
Now, after being found violating the rules, all of the 12 athletes may face a ban which ranges from two to four years provided their B sample tests also return positive. However, if the athletes accept their fault and can convince NADA disciplinary panel that they took the banned substance accidentally or because of their ignorance, they may escape the ban.
NADA had planned to carry out a record drug test during the Khelo India School Games. According to the NADA officials, more than 500 dope samples were collected from the 3750+ participants at the event.