By IANS,
New Delhi : Sports Minister Ajay Maken Tuesday announced the sacking of Ukranian athletics coach Yuri Ogorobonik after the sudden spurt in dope cases and also initiated a probe to look into the role of Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials.
Maken said he has asked SAI director general Desh Deepak Verma to submit a report within three days on the role of SAI officials and coaches in the doping scandal.
Maken also said that an inquiry committee headed by a retired high court judge or the chairman of the disciplinary panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) will be set-up to find the reasons behind the doping scandal and also propose steps to curb the evil.
“I have asked SAI to immediately terminate the contract of the foriegn coach and have asked the SAI director general to find out the role of SAI officials involved in the doping scandal. The officials could be coaches employed by SAI and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI),” the minister told reporters.
Eight athletes have so far tested positive. They include three members of the women’s 4×400 metres relay team that won golds at last year’s CWG and Asian Games.
“We have to find out how banned substances entered National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala. Since these banned substances have been found in the premises of NIS, it smacks of some connivance between athletes and officials. We have to find out whether officials are involved in it,” Maken said.
The sports minister also said that he has asked SAI to frequently change dope officers and increase the number of doctors at NIS to three.
“Now we have just one doctor in NIS. I have asked SAI to increase the numbers of doctors and also provide a lady doctor,” he said.
Quarter-milers Ashwini Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur, Sini Jose, Juana Murmu, Priyanka Pawar, Tiana Mary Thomas, shot-putter Sonia and men’s long jumper Hari Krishnan Muralidharan have tested positive. Ashiwini, Mandeep and Sini were a part of the famed women’s
4x400m relay team that won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games last year. Ashiwini also won the gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the Asian Games.