Delhi State Athletics Meet doping testers’ arrival from NADA leaves only one to compete in the 100-meter final after several leave with the video of the JLN Stadium alluding to severe doping
As national anti-doping investigators arrived at the venue to conduct tests on Tuesday, the Delhi State Athletics Championship turned into a farce as only one sprinter raced in the 100-meter final.
Video shows syringes filled JLN bathrooms as doping allegations rock Delhi State Athletics Meet 2023
"Preparations" for the Delhi State Athletics meet in full swing. Video from JLN stadium that also houses the National Anti-Doping office.
🎥 Clip sent by a coach. pic.twitter.com/W7RivSDJ7r— Andrew (@AndrewAmsan) September 23, 2023
As per India Express, the men’s 100-meter final featured just one participant; a steeplechase racer ran on after finishing to evade a drug test; and many champions avoided the medal ceremony out of fear that they could be asked to produce samples.
The number of participants dropped by 50% the day after it was reported that a stadium toilet video recording had captured piles of used needles, as rumours spread that National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) officers had dropped by.
At the Delhi State Athletics Meet on Tuesday, 20-year-old Lalit Kumar, knew he would only ever come in first when he knelt down at the starting blocks for the men’s 100-meter final. All seven of Kumar’s competitors pulled out of the race at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the city, citing cramps or muscle problems. The organisers believe they withdrew as a result of learning about the approaching arrival of representatives from India’s anti-doping organisation (NADA).
In the final lineup for the men’s 100-meter race, Lalit Kumar was the lone competitor. The remaining seven sprinters, according to Kumar, told him they were experiencing “cramps” or “muscle strain”, according to Indian Express.
As per a senior coach, he told The Indian Express:
We have eight finalists in the track events, but only three or four turned up (on Tuesday). This is the state of affairs.
He further said:
In the junior steeplechase event, a girl continued to run even after crossing the finish line. A doping control officer had to chase her to get her sample.
On the other side, only three of the Under-20 boys’ 100-meter finals athletes took the field. In the Under-16 boys’ hammer throw, there was only one contender.