Commonwealth Games 2018 Syringe Gate: House-Keeping Staff Asked to Keep an Eye on the Indian Athletes

Suspicious eyes continue to haunt the Indian contingent after the syringe controversy at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018. The organizers continue to target all the batches that are arriving the country for a dope test. A coach told a leading daily that the athletes are facing a tough time and it’s getting extremely difficult to even escape suspicious eyes.

While it’s quite normal for the organizers to be the watchdog so the games remain clean, but the manner in which Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) is functioning, is quite unusual. “Athletes wanted to rest in their rooms after a long flight, but here they were asked to give their samples even before settling down properly. It’s not only harsh on these athletes but embarrassing as well. Just because of the fault of some athlete (read boxer), the entire contingent is being looked upon with suspicion,” said coach to a newspaper.

Sources told the newspaper that the ASADA officials even asked the house-keeping staff to keep an eye on the Indian athletes. Following the syringe gate, India had vehemently denied their involvement and said that the syringe was used to administer “vitamin substance” to an ill boxer. But the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive David Grevemberg said it was a clear breach of No-Needle Policy.

Following the recovery of a syringe outside the room of a seasoned boxer of Friday, the boxing contingent was asked to submit their urine samples. On Sunday the weightlifters were tested and on Monday it was the gymnasts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 03, 2018 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).