Six fail dope tests at Police Athletics

Six athletes failed dope tests during the 60th All India Police Championships, which was held from March 12 to 15, at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi, the National Anti Doping Agency said.

Six out of the 55 samples collected from the athletes tested positive for prohibited substances notified by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

The National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) had organised a dope control programme during the championships and collected the 55 samples.

According to the analytical reports of sample 'A' received from the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), six contained prohibited substances, NADA director general Rahul Bhatnagar said on Tuesday.

The substances reported were stanozolol, furosemide (diuretics), methandienone and nandrolone.

"In percentage terms, this is 11%, which is much higher than the national average of 4%. The athletes involved belong to Punjab Police, BSF, ITBP, CRPF and Odisha Police," read a statement from NADA.

The agency also did sample testing between March 26-30, 2012, at the 60th All India Police Wrestling Cluster 2011, held at JLN Stadium and IG Stadium. Altogether 47 urine and 12 blood samples were collected.

"The report of NDTL is awaited in respect of this 47 samples. Samples collected include Wrestling (10), Boxing (17), Weightlifting (15), Judo (3) and Gymnastics (2). Blood samples were collected in Wrestling (3) and Boxing (9)," stated Bhatnagar.

NADA has written to the police authorities regarding the prevalence of doping in sportspersons belonging to the force and requested them to take effective measures to curb the menace.