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'Pratima might have taken drugs after test in India'
As Indian sports reeled in the wake of a doping scandal, Sports Authority of India officials said the lifter might have taken a drug after clearing the test at home.
As Indian sports reeled in the wake of the latest doping scandal involving Pratima Kumari, Sports Authority of India officials on Thursday said the lifter might have taken some drug after clearing the dope test in New Delhi.
"It is quite possible that she might have taken the drugs after the tests were carried out here. If you stop taking the drugs 10 days in advance and then provide the urine sample, there are chances that the test will turn negative," sources in SAI said.
Declining to confirm whether Kumari was actually tested in India prior to her departure for Athens they however said: "If she had returned a positive she would have been pulled out of the contingent here itself. No one would have left here after a positive even if he or she was a medal contender."
But few of the top officials, who had earlier blamed the media for spreading false stories, were not available for comment.
Former hockey Olympian and SAI's executive director (competitions) M P Ganesh remained out of the media's reach with his office maintaining that he is not on his seat.
Ganesh, who was in charge of the Indian contingent's preparations prior to the Games, had pooh poohed media reports that two of the Athens bound athletes tested positive.
The Government had on Wednesday said in Parliament that Indian athletes were put on random dope tests before they left here to take part in the Olympics.
