India's CWG boxing team doctor issued 'written reprimand' in syringe controversy

The CGF Federation Court was satisfied with Patil's explanation for vitamin injection but it ruled that the 'no needle policy' in force at the Games Village has been breached

Image: Reuters

New Delhi: Following a hearing by the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) Federation Court, the team doctor of India's boxing squad - Amol Patil - has been handed a "strong written reprimand" in the case involving discovery of syringes near the rooms allotted to players - as reported by insidethegames.biz. 

The Court was satisfied with Patil's explanation for vitamin injection but it ruled that the 'no needle policy' in force at the Games Village has been breached and warned the doctor to "immediately familiarise himself" with the CGF policies.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Federation Court heard a complaint made by the CGF Medical Commission against Dr Amol Patil, Team Doctor of the Indian Boxing Team. The Commission alleged a breach of the CGF No Needle Policy applicable to the Games," the CGF said in a statement after the hearing.

"As part of the investigation, the Doctor in question confirmed that he had administered a vitamin B complex, by injection, to an athlete that was feeling unwell.

"The Federation Court's decision is that CGF should issue a strong written reprimand to the Doctor for the breaches referred to above with a recommendation that he immediately familiarise himself with CGF Policies, in particular the Medical Policies and Standards applicable during Games time so as to avoid a recurrence of any breaches," the statement added. 

CGF Federation Court Decision regarding infringement of CGF No Needle Policy by Team Doctor of the Indian Boxing Team #CommonwealthSport #CleanSport #gc2018 pic.twitter.com/PjUcJCuX15 — Commonwealth Games Federation (@thecgf) April 3, 2018

The court further ruled that the breach by Patil also involved leaving the needles in his room while he went to the polyclinic to find a bin.

"Under the no needle policy, needles are required to be stored in a central secured location, access to which is restricted to authorised medical personnel of the Commonwealth Games Association delegation," the CGF statement further read.

"The needles in question were not disposed of until he had made two trips to the polyclinic."

On the question of not following the policy by providing information, the court gave an all-clear to Patil saying that it accepted the information he e-mailed later. 

"While the doctor did not file the form as required by the policy following the investigation into the discovery of the needles, and after due enquiry, he complied with the direction of the Medical Commission and emailed information which, in the Court’s view, is substantially similar to the information required," the CGF said.

The hearing was conducted after the breach of 'no needle policy' was confirmed by the CGF Medial Commission.

"A copy of the letter of reprimand should be served on the Chef de Mission of the Indian Team who should be advised to ensure that no further infractions of CGF Policies occur by any member of the Indian Team," the court ordered.

The Indian contingent, however, had earlier been cleared of any doping violation in the incident.