Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Sacked Ukaranian coach Yuri Ogorodnik on Saturday claimed innocence in the current doping scandal which hit the Indian athletics, saying that he never gave any anabolic steroid to his wards.
“Iam a professional coach and I don’t give dope,” he said. “How can I give steroids to girls who are on WADA list? Girls believe in me and I believe them,” he told reporters in Patiala on Saturday.
He said he bought food supplements in a sealed envelope and did not know how it got contaminated, while stressing that it was not his mistake. “I have been giving these supplements for the past 10 years,” he added.
Six quarter-milers -- Sini Jose, Ashwini Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur, Juana Murmu, Tiana Mary Thomas and Priyanka Pawar – who were being coached by Yuri tested positive for methandienone.
Sini, Ashwini and Mandeep, were a part of the 4x400m relay team that won the gold at last year's Commonwealth and Asian Games. Ashwini also won the gold in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games.
First Published: Saturday, July 09, 2011, 12:42