National Anti Doping Agency keen to expedite trial of dope-tainted indian athletes after second test today

NADA keen to expedite trial of dope tainted athletes

National Anti Doping Agency keen to expedite trial of dope-tainted Indian athletes after second test today

Olympian wrestler Rajiv Tomar receiving the Arjuna Award from president Pratibha Patil in New Delhi earlier this week. Tomar was among six wrestlers and two athletes who tested positive for a banned substance after random testing by NADA during trials in Patiala recently. pic/rajeev tyagi

NADA director-general Rahul Bhatnagar also said they have asked Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials and shot putter Saurav Vij to get the B-samples tested tomorrow.

Six wrestlers and two athletes tested positive in random testing by NADA during the trials in Patiala and were provisionally suspended by their federations.

Four wrestlers, including Rajiv Tomar, who won the Arjuna Award, and Vij were part of the Commonwealth Games squad and were dropped by their federations.

"We have called the wrestling federation officials to come for the B-sample test tomorrow at 10'clock. We have also called Saurav Vij for his B-sample testing," Bhatnagar, who is also joint secretary in the Sports Ministry, told IANS.

"Their test should come by Saturday evening. Also, we have requested the anti-doping disciplinary panel, headed by a retired sessions' judge that those players whose B samples also come positive, should have an expedited hearing for a quick decision keeping in mind the upcoming Commonwealth Games."

The dope test results of some of the events like cycling, swimming and boxing are yet to come and Bhatnagar said they should be available in a day or a two.

Wrestlers Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg) and Rajiv Tomar (120kg) in men's freestyle and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72kg) in women's section were part of the CWG squad and have been replaced.

The two athletes, who returned positive in the dope test conducted by NADA during the trials at Patiala from Aug 5-8, are Vij and discus thrower Akash Antil.

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