Athletes should be held responsible, says Dutt

The sports minister said severe punishment should be meted out to offending athletes but their coaches should not be held responsible.

Refuting that woman lifter Pratima Kumari's positive dope test at the Athens Games has brought disgrace to India, Sports Minister Sunil Dutt on Thursday said severe punishment should be meted out to offending athletes but their coaches should not be held responsible.

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"Agar koi sarab peeta hai, to peena wale hi dosi hai, na ki peelane wali (If someone drinks, only that person is responsible, not someone who serves it to him or her)," Dutt told reporters here when asked whether coaches may be held responsible in doping cases.

"No one can force a player to take drugs," he said.

Dutt said weightlifter Pratima Kumari testing positive for a banned substance was "unfortunate."

"I understand an inquiry is on... Let's wait for it (to be completed)," he said.

However, he refused to consider it as a "disgrace" for India saying "even two players from hosts Greece have tested positive."