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Promises fall flat as another dope scandal hits nation
Tall promises by the Indian Olympic Association have fallen flat with the country yet again hit by a doping scandal, this time right amidst the Games.
Tall promises by the Indian Olympic Association have fallen flat with India yet again hit by a doping scandal, this time right amidst the Olympic Games.
IOA President Suresh Kalmadi had promised to have a "dope-free India by 2005" while Indian Weightlifting Federation chief H S Dora had said the federation would take steps to ensure the country does not get into the "dope muddle" again.
Ironically, both were incommunicado today after lifter Pratima Kumari was suspended pending an inquiry following a failed pre-Olympics dope test.
In the wake of the National Games doping scandal in 2003, Kalmadi had said, "our motto is to have a dope free India by 2005... We will make all efforts to remove this menace. We will go and test the athletes in the camps and even in their homes."
Dora was equally bombastic, saying the IWF would run programmes "to educate the lifters as well the coaches on the menace of doping so that we don't get into this muddle.
"We have enormous talent in the country and there is no reason why we should turn to taking banned drugs to come out with world class performances."
Dora's office in New Delhi maintained that the chief was in some meeting while Kalmadi said he was to attend a meeting.
