Doping: Finally, SAI acts against erring coaches

In a much-delayed, though welcome, move, the Sports Authority of India has served chargesheets on 11 of its coaches for their alleged role i...

In a much-delayed, though welcome, move, the Sports Authority of India has served chargesheets on 11 of its coaches for their alleged role in the drug-tainted Hyderabad National Games last year, the Junior National Weightlifting Championship in Chennai in January 2003 and the Junior National Athletic Championship that same month.

Four others have been issued warnings.

The chargesheets were issued by SAI Director-General Shekhar Dutt on September 26 and the coaches — who were already under suspension — given 10 days to reply to their local centres. Till date, SAI headquarters in New Delhi had not received any reply.

The chargesheet served on one of the coaches says he ‘‘failed to create an atmosphere of drug-free training’’. He was also directed to periodically check the trainees’ room and have full information with regard to consumption of any dietary supplements or any other medicine taken by the trainees.

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It said the coach had failed to impress upon the trainees the ill-affects of banned drugs. ‘‘They have failed to carry out the directions given to them by their superiors and have shown lack of devotion.’’

The coaches chargesheeted are:

Harbinder Singh Sandhu (Jalandhar), Dr Hansa Sharma (Lucknow), K Amarnath (Andhra Pradesh), SC Goel (Delhi), P Ramu (Pondicherry), Kun Kishore, (Manipur), GR Sharma (Lucknow), Mani Lal, Jagraj Singh (Patiala), AM George (Trichur), Rana Rao (Hyderabad)

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