Chandigarh: The doping controversy at the ongoing World Cup Kabaddi seems far from over with five more players being tested positive for banned substances, taking the total list of dope offenders to 12.
Two players from Canada, and one each from UK, Australia and Italy failed the dope tests.
The players have been suspended and barred from taking part in the competition till their names are cleared. The tests are being conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and they have dispatched three teams to the venues, which will test the participants in the Cup.
Before start of the tournament, a special five-member anti-doping committee had been formed and Dr. Manmohan Singh and Dr. Munish Chander were made Chairman and Convener respectively.
Chander confirmed that as many as 84 samples have been taken already. On Monday, three players participating in the ongoing Cup had failed dope tests and were stopped from taking any further part in the tournament.
The organising committee of the event had also issued notices to the players of Group B pool, who were from the United States, Spain and Argentina.
Two days back, the organising committee had temporarily suspended four players who had tested positive for banned substances after the NADA test results were declared.
Out of the four, two were from Australia while one each from Germany and Canada.
According to the organising secretary of the Cup and former Indian hockey captain, Pargat Singh, the organising committee was committed to ensure a dope-free tournament.
"Kabaddi is an unorganized sector."
"It is not governed at the world level and to some extent, I would also say lack of knowledge among players adds to the problem," Pargat admitted.
A player taking part in the tournament also admitted that sometimes the lure of money can lead a player to treading the wrong path, while on most occasions taking banned substance can happen out of sheer ignorance.
"It is certainly a sad situation, but we are trying our level best to check this menace. We conduct repeated tests during various Kabaddi tournaments organized in our country."
"Before coming to India for this Cup, we had tested all players for banned substances," an official accompanying the UK team preferring anonymity said.
"Moreover, the players are fully aware that they could be tested by NADA anytime during the Cup and therefore, they are taking all preventive measures."
However, a Canadian team official felt that samples of Kabaddi players should be taken more often and strict action should be taken against erring players if the "aim of drug-free sports is to be achieved."
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