Sports chief gave cash to buy drugs: Athlete

Today, Laxmi named the official for the first time and detailed the modus operandi. Subramanyam, she said, distributed cash to the athletes of the host team and asked them to buy performance-enhancing drugs on their own.

‘‘L V Subramanyam gave all of us the money and we got drugs from our own sources,’’ she said. When asked from where she got the banned drug, Laxmi declined to comment. ‘‘At this point, I can’t reveal the source. I am waiting for the official announcement of the Amateur Athletc Federaton of India and the Indian Olympic Association,’’ she said. Subramanyam had ridiculed Laxmi’s charges that officials were involved.

‘‘You cannot expect us to encourage athletes to take drugs and win medals for the state. It must be sheer frustration that is making her speak in such desperate terms,’’ he said.

Despite revelations that point to involvment of officials in the dope saga, chances are Udaya Laxmi may be handed out a two-year ban but officials may go scotfree.