National Games’ fastest are on dope list

When Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced massive cash awards for the state’s medal winners at the Hyderabad National Games, he would not have thought it would backfire so badly. Out of the 22 sportspersons who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, nine are from the state.

Though Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh had revealed only the name of Chandigarh rower Lakshman Singh, the list of 22, which is in possession of The Indian Express, has some big names.

Prominent among them are the fastest man and woman at the Games, Jagdish Basak of Punjab and Maharashtra’s Kavita Pandya. Discus gold medal winner Hiridyanand, Ramandeep who got silver in javelin throw and Maha Singh, the long jump silver medallist, too find themselves on the list.