1,500 dope tests to be held during Commonwealth Games
By IANSSaturday, October 2, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Commonwealth Games Federation will conduct 1,500 dope tests during the Oct 3-14 mega event, World Anti-Doping Agency director-general David Howman said Saturday.
The number would go up to 2,000 after including the pre-Games tests that could be carried out at the Games Village, he told reporters here.
The Delhi Games Organising Committee has trained more than 450 Doping Control Officials (DCOs). The DCOs include doctors, sports medicine experts, physiotherapists and physical education teachers, Howman said.
The WADA’s role in Delhi would be to monitor the testing programme to ensure it adhered the specified procedures.
“The doping samples can be saved for eight years. The decision on how long to save the samples is with the respective testing authorities. We are for storing the samples for eight years,” Howman said.
On educating athletes and team doctors about the menace of doping and the list of prohibited substances, the WADA chief said, “We have set up a booth in the Games Village, where information is being given to athletes.”
Howman said Indias National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has made a sincere effort to curb the doping menace.
