One-member committee to look into dope scandal

New Delhi, July 7 (PTI) In the wake of one of the biggest
dope scandals in the country, the Indian government on
Thursday appointed Justice (retd) Mukul Mudgal to enquire into
all aspects of the fiasco.
India's top eight athletes, including three members of
the Commonwealth Games and Asiad gold medal winning sprinters,
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 on Thursday, 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.