Dope use ahead of Asian Games

NEW DELHI: With the Hwangcho Asian Games only a month and a half away, doping scandals have hit the Indian sports scene. Three Indian players who were going to participate in the Asian Games were arrested for doping the other day. 14-year-old swimmer, Judo player Jasleen Singh Saini and Owais Sarwar have been caught and they have been temporarily banned.

The name of the swimmer has not been released by the National Anti-Doping Agency as he is a minor. The 14-year-old was found to have traces of a stimulant named Norandrosterone. Three American swimmers were recently banned for using this drug. Jasleen, who had won gold in the Taipei Open Judo tournament held last month, was caught by the International Anti-Doping Agency during the dope test that was conducted for that tournament. Jasleen was a member of the potential team for the Asian Games. Owaiz Sarwar from Ladakh was included in the 14-member Indian team for the Asian Games by the Wushu Association of India.

India has become the country behind Russia and Italy in the number of players caught for doping at the international level. The National Anti-Doping Agency has caught 36 players so far this year.