The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : No way to start a new season

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Sport

Sport - Athletics

No way to start a new season

K.P. Mohan

NEW DELHI: Indian athletics seemed to be looking up less than two years ago. Now there are question marks more than ever before.

On the eve of the season-opening National circuit meet at the Nehru Stadium here, the topic uppermost in the minds of the ardent followers of the sport is not about the modest success of our athletes at the Asian Indoor championships at Pattaya, not even about who will make it to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, but about the recent scandal involving a dozen "disappearing athletes' who were out to avoid a team from the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA)

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is of the opinion that the happenings at the NIS, Patiala, is a matter solely within its domain and it has already initiated proceedings against the athletes. It has suspended a batch of around 12 athletes, not necessarily those involved in the "missing list", though firm numbers were not forthcoming on Tuesday.

An enquiry has been ordered and the athletes would be taken back into the national camp — and into the mainstream competitive circuit — only after they provide a "satisfactory explanation" about their absence.

Of the dozen who went missing at Patiala, hurdlers Naunidh Singh and Gupreet Singh were not part of the camp, long jumper Amritpal had reportedly taken leave, shot putter Kuldeep Singh's whereabouts was known while discus thrower Harwant Kaur had intimated the International Federation (IAAF) through the AFI that she would be training at her village in Sabhra, Punjab.

Harwant's is the only case that would come under the IAAF's "whereabouts" rule while the others will have to be handled entirely by the national federation, the AFI Secretary, Lalit Bhanot explained on Tuesday.

Those athletes under suspension include Anil Kumar (100m), Bhupinder Singh (400m), P.S. Sreejith (4000m), Maha Singh (long jump), Malkiat Singh (triple jump), Navpreet Singh and Ranvijay Singh (shot put). Also under suspension, because of absence from the camp without permission, though unrelated to the WADA visit, are Manjeet Kaur (400m), Seema Antil (discus) and J.J. Shobha (heptathlon).

Mr. Bhanot said that the suspended athletes might be able to compete in the Federation Cup here from February 28 if cleared by the disciplinary panel headed by Mr. Sushil Salwan.

The immediate task of the AFI is not just in getting the truth about the "missing dozen", but also in spotting the core group of athletes who would form the team for Melbourne.

Entries for Melbourne have already been finalised and submitted. The first two circuit meets will form the basis of final choice with the athletes having a last chance to attain the qualifying marks in the Federation Cup. After that names would be withdrawn rather than added to the already selected list.

The following events will be held in Wednesday's meet: Men: 200m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, high jump, pole vault, shot put, hammer, javelin. Women: 200m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, pole vault, discus, javelin.

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