A number of Indian athletes were reportedly tested for banned drugs after a used syringe was found near the accommodation of the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games village on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
While the Commonwealth Games authorities have not identified the athletes or the country they represent, the Indian media has reported that 12 members of the Indian boxing team were tested after a housekeeping staff tipped them off about a used syringe found stuffed inside a crushed plastic bottle.
According to the , the doctor of the Indian team admitted to using the syringe but denied any wrongdoing.
The manager of the Indian team, Ajay Narang, denied the involvement of Indian athletes in any wrongdoing and claimed he himself reported the matter to the authorities.
"One of my guys reported that to us. I had a look and could see these were syringes," news agency AFP quoted Mr Narang as saying.
"As a good citizen, I immediately went to the Medical Commission office for analysis and disposal. We didn't open the bottle at all."
The chief coach of the Indian Athletics team, Radhakrishnan Nair, while speaking to SBS Radio’s Malayalam program said the syringe was recovered from a common area that is used by other teams as well.
“It [syringe] was found from the common area of the building which has eight floors and the Indian team is occupying just five floors of it. The remaining three are occupied by other teams,” he said.
The initial test results are expected by Monday evening.
Commonwealth Games Federation spokesperson, Ben Nichols indicated a possible action against the athletes for breaching the Gold Coast games' ‘no-needle’ policy that proscribes the use of needles unless under approved exemptions.
“ASADA investigators collected evidence and took statements from medical and athlete representatives of a Commonwealth Games Association (CGA). The CGF Medical Commission will be progressing discussions with the CGA and medical staff regarding a possible breach of the CGF Needle Policy. If analytical evidence indicates further follow up, the CGF Medical Commission will follow procedures as set out in the Anti-Doping Standard,” Mr Nichols said.
Just before the Rio Olympics 2016, Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav and shot-putter Inderjeet Singh were tested positive for banned substances by India's National Anti-Doping Agency.
Three members of India's 2010 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team, Mandeep Kaur, Ashwini Akkunji and Sini Jose were found guilty of doping in 2011. They were handed a one-year ban and the Indian track and field coach Yuri Ogorodnik was fired. Four other athletes were caught in this scandal.
During the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, two women weightlifters, Pratima Kumari and Sanamacha Chanu failed their doping tests.
