HC seeks status report on doping tests

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to Sports Authority of India and sought from it a status report on the action taken against sportspersons found guilty of doping.

Taking serious view of SAI's alleged laxity towards doping, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Justice D K Jain said the sports body should find a permanent solution to the problem and not deal with it on a piecemeal basis. SAI was directed to file their report by December 12.

The notice was issued to SAI during the hearing of a petition by Health Fitness Trust, run by former athlete Sunita Godara, seeking to lay down guidelines on doping tests and selection of sportspersons for various national awards.

The court had issued notices to the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs earlier.

Dalbir Singh, a fitness expert with HFT, arguing the case personally, alleged that over 300 sportspersons in the country had been found guilty of using banned drugs but the concerned sports federations could take action against only 30 so far.

Since the government had failed to lay down rules and guidelines to conduct doping tests and procedure for action against the guilty sportspersons, various federations in the country are applying only the rules laid down by the International Olympic Committee, he said.

Meanwhile, the ministry, in an additional affidavit, said it is considering amending the existing guidelines on giving grants to recognised national sports federations.