The Commonwealth Games Federation has cleared the Indian boxing team of doping allegations that surfaced after a syringe was found in a crushed water bottle near the team’s accommodation at the Gold Coast CWG village. But the visiting pugilists still face action for breaching the games’ no-needle policy.
According to reports in the India media, 12 members of the Indian boxing team were tested on Saturday.
“There was nothing in the syringe,” Peter Beattie, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee told the ABC.
The coach of the Indian Boxing team, Santiago Nieva, told 7 News on Monday that a “vitamin substance” was given to a boxer who was not feeling well.
"I'm confident that our boxers (have) not taken anything," Mr Nieva told the Seven Network.
"We had one boxer who didn't feel very well and doctor has given him an injection."
The CGF chief executive David Grevemberg said the investigation had established that the games ‘no-needle’ policy had been breached since no prior approval had been obtained to bring in the syringes. He said a CWF court is meeting today to decide any sanctions.
“There is a clear breach that these needles have been brought in and they were not supposed to be there because there was no approval to bring those in,” Mr Grevemberg said.
Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie said she was hopeful of an “appropriate” action against the Indian team.
“I am confident that the CWG court will bring down appropriate sanctions,” Senator McKenzie told ABC’s Radio National.
The Indian team earlier denied any wrongdoing and claimed they had themselves reported the presence of the syringes to the CWG authorities.
There’s a strict ‘no-needle’ policy in force at the Commonwealth Games that prohibits the use of needles unless under approved exemptions.
