Sportspersons informed about dope control

Our Sports Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre, Chandigarh, along with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), has been organising lectures on ‘dope control among sportspersons’ to educate them to keep away from the medical substances which are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

A lecture in this regard was delivered by Dr Bikash Medhi, specialist from PGI, Chandigarh, at a seminar organised by the SAI Training Centre at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. Similar lectures were also presented at the SAI Centre, Mastuana Sahib and Badal.

Medhi was accompanied by Dr Rohit, also from PGI, Chandigarh, and Surbhi Tomar, a local physiotherapist and designated Dope Control Officer (DCO) by the NADA.

Medhi discussed the Therapeutical Use Exemption (TUE) and other dope control systems in India. He said if an athlete takes such performance-enhancing substance under some life-saving circumstances, the exemption can be taken from the dope control agency under the TUE rule, after submitting information timely through a proper channel.

He emphasised the need to take proper nutrition and balanced diet and avoiding sports supplements because most of such substances were neither tested nor approved by the dope control bodies.

In all, 140 sportspersons, besides coaches from the SAI, the Punjab Sports Department and parents of budding players attended the lecture.

Dr Haripal Sidhu from Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, Nirmal Singh Grewal, veteran athlete and medal winner in the Asian Games, Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Ludhiana Roller Skating Association, Anupam Kumaria, secretary, District Badminton Association, Ludhiana, along with sports promoters Tarun Kumar and Pardeep Kumar. Gaurav Saggi, a young artist, entertained the gathering with his poem ‘Miti’.

Harbans Singh, in-charge of the SAI Centre, proposed a vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to the NADA and the Director, SAI, Chandigarh, for arranging the lecture.