Flying sikh Milkha Singh, wants dope-tainted athletes to return their cash awards
Flying sikh Milkha Singh, wants dope-tainted athletes to return their cash awards
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Legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh lashed out at tainted athletes caught in the doping scandal demanding their rewards and medals be taken back.
"Take all their medals, awards and cash rewards, so that the next generations of athletes are aware of the humiliation they'll face if they use wrong means to boost their performance," Singh told MiD DAY from his Chandigarh residence yesterday.
India's Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur, and Manjeet Kaur after
winning the 4x400m relay gold at the Asiad in Guangzhou last year
"We should show no sympathy towards doping offences. There should be no dignity shown towards them, after all they have brought bad reputation to our country," the Flying Sikh added.u00a0
India's golden girls Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur and Ashwini Akkunji, who won gold medals in the 4x400m relay in the Commonwealth and Asian Games, along with five other athletes flunked dope tests.
The then Union sports minister MS Gill had reportedly announced R20 lakh for gold medal, R10 lakh for silver and R6 lakh for bronze medal winners in the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
While equal blame goes to athletes and coaches, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) must also be held accountable for the doping mess, demanded Singh.
"Athletes are to be blamed equally. They cannot be ignorant about what they are consuming. A coach gives direction, but athletes should also be educated to know what they are consuming.
"These coaches have ruined our athletes' career. The sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have to act strictly. Action should also be taken against AFI because doping is not possible without them. They (AFI) are well aware of who is taking drugs," he stated.
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