NEW DELHI: Does dope testing on the eve of the departure of a team help at all? The Union Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) seem to think it does.

On Saturday, just hours before the departure of the Indian team for the World junior athletics championships in Beijing, urine samples were collected from the 11 athletes after hurriedly making available the sample collection kits that have been in short supply for some time.

The officers of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) managed to raise the 11 kits by Saturday afternoon after a last-minute scramble but it was explained that a fresh consignment of kits was on its way from London and there would be no shortage of kits for testing the sportspersons before they proceed for the SAF Games in Colombo next week.

But, what will be gained by this last-minute testing? Take the case of the 11-member team to Beijing, where the competition begins on August 15. The Dope Control Centre (DCC) is unlikely to give the results in time for the opening day when five of the Indian athletes are scheduled to compete in the preliminary rounds. If by any chance athletes scheduled to compete on later dates are found positive, they would be quietly withdrawn.

Keeping in mind the Government holidays on August 15 and 16, it is also unlikely several teams that are scheduled to leave for the SAF Games on August 16 would be tested and results declared in time for even the competitions, leave alone the departure. The athletics team, slated to leave from Bangalore on August 22, can of course be tested provided the matter is taken up urgently from now on.

Clash

The ministry is aware that there is a clash in its testing procedure with the Code of Ethics laid down by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). With the DCC having entered the probationary phase in its accreditation process, and the Union Government having signed the Copenhagen Declaration, the ministry wants to opt for "random testing". But it feels that a fresh directive from the Delhi High Court is needed to do away with pre-departure testing.

Recently the Union Government filed an application in the Delhi High Court seeking a modification of its order in the Sunita Godara case that the ministry feels has made pre-departure testing mandatory.

This is what the court said in its order dated August 17, 2004: "The committee (appointed by the court) examined the matter thoroughly and arrived at a set of conclusions. If any individual is aggrieved by any action or inaction it would be for him to file proper proceedings, if permissible under law. In view of the prayers we are of the opinion that if the guidelines framed under the report submitted through the court are implemented and are followed, nothing further is required to be done. Earlier also guidelines were issued on 10.7.1997. The counsel for the UOI (Union of India) as well as Indian Olympic Association and Sports Authority of India have given assurance that the guidelines shall be strictly adhered to and will be implemented in letter and spirit.

"In view of what is stated above, this petition is not required to be entertained any further. However, if there is any breach committed, it would be open for the aggrieved individual to take appropriate action in the matter. With these directions the writ petition is disposed of." The ministry's latest application is expected to come up again in November.

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