Strict dope testing at World Military Games

By IANS

New Delhi : Strict dope testing measures will be followed during the Military World Games at Hyderabad and Mumbai Oct 14-21 that will see the participation of some 4,700 sportspersons from 72 countries, it was announced here Thursday.


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Samples of all those who break records, in addition to random samples, will be sent daily to laboratories in Bangkok "to ensure highest international standards in this biggest ever sporting event to be held in India so far", a defence ministry statement said after a meeting here to review the progress made on the preparations for the event.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony presided over the meeting that was attended among others by Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt, Indian Army vice chief Lt. Gen. Deepak Kapur and senior officials of the Games Organising Committee.

Addressing the meeting, Antony said the event "must be conducted in the best possible manner and should provide a benchmark" for all future sporting events in India.

"He assured that the (defence) ministry will provide all support in this regard," the statement said.

Fifteen events will feature at the fourth edition of the Games that will be held in Asia for the first time.

The competitive disciplines are athletics, swimming, military pentathlon, shooting, parachuting, football, handball, volleyball, triathlon, sailing, judo, boxing and wrestling. Hockey and kabaddi will be demonstration sports.

All the events will be conducted at Hyderabad, except for sailing and triathlon that would be conducted at Mumbai.

Men and women will participate in all disciplines except boxing, wrestling and handball.

The largest contingent at the Games will be from India, though no figure has yet been specified, China and Germany will each be fielding over 200 sportspersons from their armed forces.

Continent-wise, Europe will be the best represented, with 34 of its 38 nations converging for the Games, which are being seen as a precursor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Organising Committee, in association with the Andhra Pradesh government, "is making all efforts to make the conduct of the Games a success".

"Massive infrastructure is coming up in Hyderabad and the existing facilities at Mumbai are being upgraded to international standards to meet the requirements of the Games," the statement said.

The World Military Games are conducted every four years under the aegis of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Brussels (Belgium). CISM is an international sports association that is open to the armed forces of all nations.

"India joined CISM in 1999 and thereafter has been actively involved in all the activities of the organisation," the statement said.

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