One-member committee to look into dope scandal

In the wake of one of the biggest dope scandals in the country, the government today appointed Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal to enquire into all aspects of the fiasco.

India's top eight athletes, including three members of the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medal winning 4x400 relay team, had tested positive for anabolic steroids in out-of-competition testing.

The one-member committee, which will be assisted by NADA's senior Project Manager V Jayaramaan, has been asked to submit its report within six weeks.

As per the terms of reference stated in the Sports Ministry's order issued today, the Committee has been asked to "determine the facts and circumstances leading to large scale recent incidents of alleged doping in Athletics discipline."

Justice Mudgal, former chief justice of Punjab and Haryana Hight Court, will also "examine reasons for such large scale prevalence of doping and modus operandi involved, including availability of the prohibited substances in and around training camps/competitions."

The committee will "enquire into the role of agencies involved, if any. Suggest remedial measures to improve the protocols of dope testing and its integrity and promptness so that such lapses, if any, do not happen in future."

Indian athletics was rocked by a doping scandal recently when eight athletes, including Ashwini Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, who were part of the CWG and Asian Games gold-winning relay quartet, tested positive for banned substances.