Surprise 'pricks' for athletes

Organising Committee declares random dope checks for participants

Dope tests have become an integral part of any national or international sporting event these days and the Commonwealth Games are no exception. The Organising Committee for the 2010 Commonwealth Games have decided to introduce surprise dope tests for participating athletes to deter them from taking banned drugs any time before or during the mega sporting event.

Sources in the Organising Committee confirmed that the participating athletes from 71 Commonwealth countries will be subjected to doping control tests, anytime and anywhere during the period of the Games.

The programme, supported by the Commonwealth Games Federation, will act as a blend of deterrence, detection and education, sources added.

The Federation has approved a test distribution plan of 1500 doping control tests -- the highest ever for any Commonwealth Games. The tests will comprise of urine, blood and breath analysis.

"Having internationally qualified DCOs and international standards of testing will be a great advantage for the country," said Dr Munish Chander, Deputy Director General (Doping Control) of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

"So far, about 50 professionally-trained DCOs used to do this job in India, but the Delhi Commonwealth Games is a very big event and we will have sufficient number of officials to ensure dope-free Games," he added. The Organising Committee has set up doping control facilities at all competition venues and training venues which are at par with the international standards. These facilities will be used solely for doping control purposes after the conclusion of the Games.

The OC, through its Doping Control Division, has trained more than 450 doping control officials for the Games. The selection and the training of these officials have been conducted in accordance with International Standards of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Hall of Shameu00a0
* Andre Agassi (US) Tennis: Methamphetamine
* Shoaib Akhtar (Pak) Cricket: Nandrolone
* Seema Antil (Ind) Athletics: Pseudoephedrine
* Mohammad Asif (Pak) Cricket: Nandrolone
* Kavita Devi, Kunjarani Devi, Monika Devi (Ind) Weightlifting:
* Martina Hingis (Swiss) Tennis: Cocaine
* Marion Jones (US) Athletics: THG
* Anil Kumar (Ind) Athletics: Norandrosterone
* Carl Lewis (US) Athletics: Pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenyl

8,000u00a0Number of athletes and officials participating in the Commonwealth Games
34 Number of cities where WADA approved dope control laboratories are situated