No information from NADA on evading dope test by athletes: AFI

Patiala: The Athletic Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday said that they did not received any information from National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) regarding evading of dope test by four athletes.

“We have not received any communication from NADA officials that some athletes had evaded the dope test,” AFI’s officiating secretary Ravinder Chaudhary told PTI. “Action is only initiated against the athletes if any report comes from NADA,” he added. Chaudhary also denied that four athletes had skipped the dope test in the camp. “None of our athletes missed the test and we haven’t taken action against anyone,” he said.According to reports, four athletes had gone missing when dope testing team arrived here to take samples. The report alleged that the top athletes, who skipped the mandatory test for banned substances and were quietly thrown out of a training camp, were allowed by sports officials to surreptitiously continue their training. They even competed in the inter-state meet - the final selection trials for the Games - held earlier this month, the report said. The athletes are part of the Commonwealth Games core group at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports here. Meanwhile, the chairman of medical and anti-doping commission of Indian Olympics Association Dr. Manmohan Singh, said if at all these athletes had evaded the dope test, action should be taken against them.On other hand, if NADA had not taken samples of these athletes than they (athletes) are innocent, he added. PTI