Drugs at Olympics

shame-drugsolympics

When two of India’s fancied weightlifters -- Pratima Kumari (63-kg category) and Sanamacha Chanu -- tested positive to banned drugs during the Athens Olympics, the entire country was left with its head hanging in shame. Questions were raised as to how despite foreign coaches and required training -- all costing millions of rupees -- the lifters needed to take performance-enhancing drugs.

And worse still, how were they given a clean chit by Indian sports authorities? Though the usual blame game involving the players, coaches and sports authorities ensued soon after, till now, no clear answers have emerged on why the players took the risky short-cut to make a mark at the international level. Though the coaches have been sacked and the players disqualified, the disgrace associated with the whole episode will not got away so easily, and soon.

- Nivedita Mishra