Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

Overage issue hits junior nationals, 100 athletes barred

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Nov 20, 2018 09:40 PM IST

As many as 45 athletes from Uttar Pradesh were suspended by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) medical panel. Rajiv Khattri, a panel official, said, a report had been submitted to the AFI.

More than 100 athletes, a majority of them from Uttar Pradesh, were found overage in the 34th Junior National Athletics Championships held in Ranchi from November 2-4. The season-ending competition was held in the U-14, U-16, U-18 and U-20 categories in both boys’ and girls’ section.

As many as 45 athletes from Uttar Pradesh were suspended by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) medical panel. Rajiv Khattri, a panel official, said, a report had been submitted to the AFI. “Almost all the barred athletes had submitted fudged age certificates. This time the screening was thorough,” said Khattri. “All the barred athletes were also reluctant to sign mandatory medical form for thorough screening,” he added.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Besides Uttar Pradesh, athletes from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Bihar were also suspended. The list of barred athletes could have been higher had Haryana not dropped some 20-odd overage athletes during the state trials. “We are trying to cleanse the system,” said Khattri, who hails from Haryana.

“After doping, overage has become a major concern. “The screening process will have more impact if state units also support the movement,” said an AFI official on condition of anonymity.

Uttar Pradesh Athletics Association (UPAA) secretary, PK Srivastava, hit out at the AFI medical panel saying, “There is a deliberate move to malign my image. Proper screening wasn’t done. Because of this, my state could not bag the team title. We generally have good results in U-14, U-16 and U-18 groups. But this time around we missed the team trophy.”

Khattri, however, said proper screening process was followed. “There were cases where we observed discrepancy in the documents furnished to verify age,” he said.

Top athletes on IAAF radar

Top Indian athletes, including Haryana quarter-miler Nirmala Sheoran, are on the radar of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an International Association of Athletics Federations body responsible for dope testing. According to an AFI official, Sheoran was subjected to out-of-competition testing in October. “Her blood and urine samples were collected in Delhi and the analysis will be done at a foreign-accredited lab.

Last year in November, AIU had collected urine samples of javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang. Kang failed out-of-competition test and faces a four-year suspension.

Olympian and national record holder in women’s 3000m steeplechase, Lalita Babar was another athlete on AIU’s radar. But since she wasn’t attending the national camp and wasn’t participating actively, the AIU didn’t bother to travel to Maharashtra to collect her urine sample.

Catch all the Latest IPL 2024 news and Live Cricket Score along with WPL Schedule and WPL Points Table related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
OPEN APP