Inderjeet cries conspiracy, AFI keeps its distance

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

Even as India was reeling with the shock of freestyle wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav testing positive for dope, another disturbing news trickled in — that of Punjab-born shot-putter Inderjeet Singh testing positive for a banned substance. Thus, in a matter of three days, two members of India’s contingent for the Rio Olympics were overtaken by controversy and disgrace.

Inderjeet, whose ‘A’ sample test has returned positive for two power-enhancing steroids — androsterone and etiocholanolone — has claimed that there is a “conspiracy” against him for speaking out openly against the ills plaguing the Indian sports administration and the hurdles Indian athletes face due to bureaucratic red-tapism. Inderjeet, who was the first Indian track and field athlete to have qualified for Rio from the Federation Cup in May 2015, has even alleged that his blood samples had been tampered with, though they were in the possession of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

The Tribune had reported on Monday that Inderjeet’s ‘A’ sample, which was collected at an out-of-competition test on June 22, had been found to be positive for dope and his chances of competing at Rio were almost over.  The NADA report was shared with Inderjeet and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Monday and the 28-year-old now has a week’s time to appear before NADA for a test of his ‘B’ sample, which is yet to be opened.

“If he doesn’t turn up by next Monday, then it will be presumed that he has foregone his ‘B’ sample option and further proceedings will be launched against him. A NADA disciplinary panel will hear his case and he has to put the facts before it,” NADA Director General (DG) Navin Agarwal told The Tribune.

If Inderjeet’s ‘B’ sample also turns positive, he will have to miss the Rio Games, apart from facing a ban of up to four years, as per the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

AFI has refused to support Inderjeet because, according to some officials in the federation, the shot-putter had been training on his own in Bhiwani with his personal coach, Pritam Singh, and was not part of the national camp for quite some time. For Rio, Inderjeet chose to train in Pennsylvania in the USA and returned to his training base in Bhiwani only in April this year. AFI had doubts about him for quite some time after he evaded a dope test in June, despite being registered with the NADA testing pool. NADA DG Agarwal confirmed his whereabouts clause failure last month. AFI has also refused to buy Inderjeet’s conspiracy theory.

“We had no clue what Inderjeet and his personal coach were taking as food supplements. The majority of the Rio-bound athletes are training on their own, so it’s very difficult to keep a watch on their intake. We are not in a position to defend him. Moreover, his dope result hasn’t surprised us,” said an AFI official.

But Inderjeet maintained that a conspiracy had been hatched against him by those who feared that if he went on to win a medal at Rio, he would further expose them or would continue speaking against the systemic problems. “I have been tested six times this year, which is something strange,” Inderjeet said. “I have never missed or avoided NADA tests. I have never failed a dope test and this is a conspiracy to silence my voice. My critics don’t want an athlete to stand up against them. They don’t want someone speaking on behalf of athletes, who face a lot of difficulties because of the officialdom, to achieve sporting success.”

“I will appeal to the Prime Minister to look into this matter. An athlete does a lot of hard work, but the system always tries to pull him down. The red-tapism won’t allow you to succeed. I would urge the people of this country to kindly support me in realising my dream of winning an Olympics medal. I always spoke about the apathy towards the athletes and I have been penalised for it.”