Commonwealth Games 2010: Indian athlete fails dope test
On Tuesday, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Fennell announced that so far, 1200 doping tests have been conducted to make the Games a drug free event. It is worth mentioning that in a press release before the start of this tournament,
Fennell was quoted as saying that any positive doping tests could be extremely harmful for the reputation of the event.
After the disqualification of two Nigerian athletes, an Indian athlete has tested positive for a banned drug. The nature and name of the performance enhancing drug, as well as the name of the athlete has not been disclosed by the Commonwealth Games Federation
and anti-doping officials as yet. According to Fennell, the athlete has been informed about his or her results. The results do, however, need confirmation after which the name of the athlete will be disclosed.
Before this, Osayomi of Nigeria was not only disqualified from the Games, but also was stripped of the gold medal that she had won in the women’s 100 metre event after Sally Pearson of Australia was disqualified from the meet. She was stripped of the medal
after her B-sample also tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine on Tuesday. Samuel Okon, who finished the 110 metre hurdle event at the sixth spot, also tested positive for the same chemical and was disqualified. The spokesman of the Nigerian
Olympic Association and the President of the Federation have both blamed the supplements industry for not checking the composition of their products before they are sold to people, particularly to the athletes.
Methylhexaneamine is a stimulant that was added to the list of banned chemicals by the World Anti-doping Agency earlier this year. 8 Indian athletes, including 6 wrestlers tested positive for this chemical before the Games and thus were disqualified from
the event. It is a derivative of germanium and oil and is used to delay fatigue and increase awareness. It is also sometimes used for nutritional purposes.
Other athletes at the Games have become extra cautious after these athletes failed the doping tests. Two of the Indian shooters, despite being ill, avoided heavy medication and compromised on their performances in the shooting events that took place on Tuesday.
Representatives of the host nations have their fingers crossed and are hoping that their athletes will test negative for all the banned chemicals and stimulants. Disqualification at the end of the Games is not a very good sign at all.
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