Whistle-blower doctor Nandi assaulted at NIS, Patiala

Sajib Nandi, a suspended doctor of the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala who blew the whistle on the systemic doping of players, was assaulted by security personnel yesterday when he tried to enter the sports complex to meet retired judge Mukul Mudgal who is probing the scandal.

Nandi said security guards at NIS stopped him from entering the premises, saying they they had orders from senior Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials to bar his entry.

"I was pushed and one person held my hand. They said that there were orders against my entry into the NIS premises. When I asked where the written orders were, they assaulted me," Nandi told reporters outside the NIS gates.

Nandi said he wanted to meet Mudgal, who has been appointed by the sports ministry to probe the systemic doping by athletes at NIS Patiala in recent years.

Eight Indian athletes had recently tested positive for taking banned performance enhancing drugs.