Dope tests to begin before Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) would be testing athletes prior to the Delhi Commonwealth Games apart from conducting a record number of 1500 tests during the Games. In what is termed as the ‘Games period', beginning from the date of opening of the Games Village (around September 23) to the closing of the Games (October 14), the CGF will have the jurisdiction to test the athletes.

“During this time the CGF is empowered to conduct doping control tests on all athletes accredited for the Games no matter where they are, both outside and inside India,” said the CGF Medical Commission Chairman, M. Jegathesan, in a communication to The Hindu.

Dr. Jegathesan, winner of the 200 metres gold in the 1962 Asian Games and sprint double winner in the 1966 Asiad, said that if the sportspersons were to be in India at that time, then the CGF would utilise the services of the anti-doping team of the Games for the dope control.

If they were going to be outside India, then the CGF would enlist the help of a variety of individuals and organisations including the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs), the International Federations and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to “collect samples on our behalf,” Dr. Jegathesan said.

“These tests which we do will be called as ‘pre-competition' tests”, he said.

“Outside of this period the responsibility and authority to conduct out-of-competition testing will be in the hands of national authorities, international federations or WADA and they have ongoing programmes to do so,” said Dr. Jegathesan, who is also a member of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Hopefully, the NADOs, wherever in existence, including that in India and the WADA would step up their out-of-competition testing programme to target the athletes months before the start of the Games. For, dope cheats normally ensure that traces of most of the prohibited substances are flushed out of their systems weeks before competition arrives.

The pre-Games testing done before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including those outside the International Olympic Committee's prescribed period, and that prior to the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics had proved highly successful.

CW Games: WADA closely monitoring progress in Delhi

It was one step for the World Anti-Doping Agency to accredit the Delhi laboratory for service in September 2008 but readying it for October's Commonwealth Games is more ambitious.

Complicating the issue for WADA is that responsibility is now essentially out of its hands, although it is keeping a close eye on things as India trains doping control officers (DCOs).

The lab has worked successfully through several curtain-raisers, including the Commonwealth Shooting Championship, the Hockey World Cup and the Commonwealth Boxing Championships.

New Zealander David Howman, WADA's director-general, is off to Delhi in May to further monitor the situation. WADA's interest will extend past October.

"I have no problem with the lab. It has been meeting regular testing programmes from the samples sent back to us. If there was a slip in scientific standards, we'd be on to it like a robber's dog.

"The issue is for the lab to retain its accreditation beyond the Games as one of only 35 labs in the world capable of doing WADA quality testing.

They have to analyse 3000 samples a year to do that. One starting point is cricket's Indian Premier League."

Howman says WADA still feels obliged to guide India in running a full-time programme.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation [CGF] is training its own DCOs but the ideal is that they use Indians. Those people then need to be kept on after the Games."

Drug Free Sport New Zealand boss Graeme Steel can see value in providing overseas expertise, given the number of qualified DCOs in the Commonwealth.

"India has been slow setting up domestic programmes and has had problems with drugs, especially in power events. I shouldn't be too critical from a distance but, at a major Games, it's vital experienced and well-trained officials are on the job, much like bringing in top-match officials or referees."

WADA is extra conscious of policing a new test for human growth hormone (HGH) which should be operational later in the year.

Cheating athletes tend to use HGH during intense out-of-competition periods and the current testing model can only pick up synthetic HGH within 48 hours of it being taken.

When synthetic HGH is ingested, the body shuts down normal production of HGH so artificial material can be detected briefly.

CWG Delhi gets WADA approved testing center

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell Thursday said that anti-doping procedures during the 2010 Games in Delhi would be all the more stringent thanks to the recent World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) approval of the testing lab here.

"We are very pleased that WADA has approved the anti-doping lab in Delhi. It is one of 35 anti-doping labs approved by WADA." he told reporters at a press conference here.

Fennell said the National Dope Testing Laboratory at Lodhi Road's CGO complex in south Delhi would be fully operational during the Games to be held Oct 3-14.

"It (the lab) will have full operations during the course of the Games. This is a big plus for us as there aren't many cities in the world that enjoy having an approved anti-doping lab and this is something that's very good for the Games." he said.

Fennell also said that the ongoing Chefs De Mission seminar had a special segment on anti-doping measures which were discussed with representatives from 71 participating countries.

The Chefs De Mission were given training in sample collection and results management procedures. Anti-doping manuals have been circulated to them and to the athletes' coaches.

"For the Games, the CGF will be responsible for anti-doping operations. Outside the games it is the responsibility of national and international federations. The period under which it comes under our purview is from Sep 23 to Oct 14. Sep 23 being the opening day of the (Games) Village. So that's when athletes come here and come under our purview and property of the CGF and our anti-doping procedures." Fennell said.

The Games Village along the bank of the Yamuna river will accommodate 8,000 athletes and team officials.

"We want to ensure our Games are free of any doping and checks will be done very seriously and regularly." Fennell added.