Indian boxing team doctor Amol Patil has received a reprimand from the Commonwealth Games Federation’s court for breaches of its no-needle policy.
Syringes were found in the athletes’ village prompting an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the CGF’s medical commission followed by a CGF court hearing.
Dr Patil, attending his first Commonwealth Games, administered vitamin B by injection to an athlete that was feeling unwell.
The CGF court found that Dr Patil had breached the no-needle policy by leaving needles, in the room while he went to the athletes’ village polyclinic to obtain bins for the disposal of the needles.
Under the no-needle policy needles are required to be stored in a central secured location with restricted access.
A CGF statement said that Dr Patil, upon questioning, had ‘co-operated in disclosing all medication in his possession’ and that in the circumstances the court’s decision was to ‘issue a strong written reprimand’ to Dr Patil. A copy of the reprimand letter will be served on the chef de mission of the Indian team.
Indian finished in the 5th position at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 64 medals 15 gold , 30 silver and 19 Bronze.
Following the recovery of a used syringe outside the room of a seasoned boxer at the Athletes’ Village on Friday, all boxers were asked to give their urine samples for testing. On Monday, it was the turn of the gymnastics contingent, while the weightlifters were tested late on Sunday.
In what is being seen as a fall-out of the breach of the No-Needle Policy of CWG, the Indian athletes have been cornered by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) to give their samples on their arrival at the Athletes’ Village even before checking into their respective rooms.