Dumb to think Games would be clean: WADA

The head of the World Anti Doping Agency WADA believes it would be stupid to suggest the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi would be drug-free as there are always athletes prepared to risk cheating.

Can I sit here and say there is going to be a clean Commonwealth Games? That would be very dumb of me to do that, WADA Director General David Howman said on Saturday.

What I can do is say that the anti-doping programme here will be a good one. Will there be athletes here who have got away with it? Possibly. Howman,however,said it was inevitable that scenario would arise. I dont think we are ever going to find a situation where we find a non-athlete-cheating society,there is always going to be somebody who wants to take the risk, the New Zealander added.

We have had many examples of what I would say athletes who have been a little stupid because they know there is going to be a full testing programme at events like this and yet they still take the risk, he said. I dont understand it8230; it is just one of things that people do,take risks where they think they are going to get away from it,when they dont.

Howman said there would be at least 1,500 tests carried out on the 7000 competitors taking part during the October 3-14th event but pointed out that education was also key to driving out the problem of drug taking.

Science can only do so much8230;there are other things that have to be done including education and changing the culture in some sports so the work is never finished. I think in some parts of the Commonwealth there are areas where there is not enough information giving to the athletes,there is not enough information given to the coaches,the trainers,the doctors and anyone else in the athletes entourage.

However,Howman stopped short of saying that it could be an excuse for some athletes to say they werent aware and that there is a WADA programme available at the athletes village in Delhi.

Indians not off the hook

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In a strong warning to Indian athletes who tested positive recently but whose suspensions have been temporarily lifted,the WADA on Saturday said they would be stripped off their medals won at the Commonwealth Games if the decision is reversed subsequently. Howman said the agency was monitoring the case of a dozen Indian athletes who recently tested positive for methylhexaneamine.

The case is going on in the NADA panel next hearing on October 21,so WADA cannot interfere now. Our job is to monitor that any dope-related matter is dealt with under the WADA Code, he said.

WADA would appeal as usual if it feels that the NADA National Anti Doping Agency disciplinary panel which is hearing the matter was not following the WADA Code,Howman said.