Malhotra expressed his anguish over the fact that the image
of India is being tarnished due to rampant dope cases and felt that NADA needs
to be more pro-active and make two prong approach so as to educate the young
sportspersons to make them aware the ill effects of doping and at the same time
take punitive action against people indulging in doping.
He further suggested that safety measures must be put in
place to ensure that the food supplements being supplied to sportspersons are
safe and are duly certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSI).
Former International sportspersons viz. Bhaichung Bhutia, Kunjarani,
Limba Ram and Member of Parliament Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, strongly advocated
making dope test compulsory at school games level, state competitions & state
championships and suggested stringent penal action.
Malhotra stressed that a strong movement against dope
jointly by Central Government, State Governments, IOA, Sports Federations,
Coaches, Sportspersons & various agencies is the need of the hour.
Viduspat Sighania, eminent sports lawyer, supported the
views of Malhotra and stressed the need for accreditation of all Food
supplements by FSSI so that the blame cannot be shifted to the food
supplements.
Injeti Srinivas, secretary (sports), MYAS-cum-director general,
Sports Authority of India said that provisions of various Acts including Indian
Panel Code are being explored to bring doping as punishable crime since FSSI is
already taking note of nutraceuticals and other health food under its
ambit.
He further assured that Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports is taking every step to ensure that Indian sports is free from
doping.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat suggested that an effective
awareness programme should be launched from school level to educate young children
and Coaches & support Staff should be made responsible for any dope
case.
Malhotra assured that he would take up the matter with all
stake holders like Army, Para-Military Forces, State Chief Ministers and all
other agencies to ensure dope free sports and also to make dope test compulsory
prior to the physical fitness tests for recruitment where physical fitness test
is pre-requisite for employment. He further mentioned that he would take
up the matter with FSSI for laboratory tests of all food supplements and
accreditation of such Food Supplements so that Sports Authority of India
allow only those Food supplements in its centres/ camps which are tested &
certified and accredited by FSSI.
Press release