NADA to conduct dope tests during School Games

New Delhi: Fearing that doping might have "percolated" down the school level games, the National Anti- Doping Agency has decided to conduct sample testing during the 57th National School Championship 2011-12 to be held here from December 28 to January 3.

"There have been reports that sportspersons during School Games also have been indulging in use of banned substances and very often syringes and other incriminating articles are found in the toilets where such championships are held. It has been observed that doping menace has also percolated in the School level games," NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar said in a release. "NADA feels that this is a very disturbing trend and an unhealthy precedence for sports in India. Hence NADA has decided to cover dope control programme at the school level in order to send a message that sports should be dope free since resorting to doping with the hope of enhancing performance would ultimately lead to serious health problems. "The students who will be participating in these Games and harbour any intentions of using banned substances are strongly advised against the use of such performance enhancing substances, since this can lead to an end of a budding career, apart from having serious health implications for them in the future," Bhatnagar said. He said the dope control programme of NADA will also include an education and outreach programme by way of counselling sessions and distribution of pamphlets/handbooks both in Hindi and English during the School Games. PTI