PATIALA: Maintaining its zero-tolerance policy against the use of syringes, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Tuesday announced the expulsion of national level athlete Ayush Dabas from the national camp at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), after needles were found in his possession.
“As per the No Needle Policy of AFI, Ayush Dabas has been removed from the national coaching camp as he was found in possession of syringes and needles in his room,” an AFI official said.
The 22-year-old, who has a personal best of 46.58s, was last seen in action during the National Inter-State championships in Chennai, which took place from June 10-14. He had failed to qualify for the final round in 400m after clocking 47.57s in the semi-final.
The AFI has been at the forefront against the usage of syringes, and has implemented the ‘No Needle Policy’ since 2018. Under the policy, “any athlete and or support staff who finds any needle or suspect equipment in any athlete’s room is required to report the suspicious material including needles immediately to the AFI Medical Commission, which in turn will initiate a thorough investigation into the discovery of suspicious equipment including needles and further disciplinary action taken as deemed necessary”.
“AFI Medical Commission has the privilege and right to search any premises/locations including baggage search pertaining to athletes and support staff any time without any prior notice,” it said.
At the Annual General Meeting of the AFI held in Chandigarh earlier this month, legendary long jumper and senior AFI vice president Anju Bobby George had pointed out that few of the country’s athletes return with performance-enhancing drugs from abroad and later distributed those among some of their colleagues.
“Many banned drugs being taken by the athletes caught for doping are not available in India, they come from abroad. It is not only the coaches supplying banned drugs to young athletes but some athletes travelling abroad for training, procure the (performance enhancing) drugs and distribute them to others,” Anju, the country’s lone World Championship medallist had said.
AFI president Adille Sumariwalla had also issued a warning to athletes that they will be put under more intense dope testing than before by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and urged them to stop the business of taking drugs and then claiming innocence later on.
