Saving India’s Sporting Legacy
India’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics may suffer a huge jolt, if the country’s athletes continue to get banned for doping at such an alarming rate.
- India’s bid to
host the 2036 Summer Olympics may suffer a huge jolt, if the country’s athletes
continue to get banned for doping at such an alarming rate. Recently, one
Indian athlete has been tested positive for using a banned substance during an
exposure trip to the US. The tests were conducted by the US anti-doping agency
and the athlete has immediately been deported. Moreover, one reputed coach,
winner of national award in coaching, has also been suspended by Athletics
Federation of India (AFI) on charges of providing banned substances to the
athletes. There are many other doping allegations, which are being probed by
the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) at present. Many suspect that doping
menace has gone deep into the Indian sporting set up, which will obviously
defame the country’s long and creditable sporting culture.
- To the athletes,
who are trying to achieve success through doping, it must be stated that the
International Olympic Council (IOC) follows a zero-tolerance policy towards
this menace. It has already punished Russia when it was found that doping
culture is very much prevalent in the country. As a matter of fact, it’s an
established fact that Russian athletes used to be doped since childhood to
ensure success in the Olympics and other international arenas. Quite
unfortunately, this revelation has robbed the country the honour of being one
of the major sporting nations in the world. It must be mentioned here that till
the emergence of China in the sporting arena, Russia used to be the top
contender for the top spot in the Olympics following the US. At present,
Russian athletes cannot represent their country in major sporting events like
the Olympics. They have to compete in these events under the IOC flag. As a
matter of fact, IOC leaves no stone unturned to punish the offenders and as
well as the respective nations for indulging in corrupt practices which goes
against the spirit of Olympic charter.
- This is why NADA
along with sporting associations of the country should keep a strict vigil on
the athletes to keep them away from adopting any unfair means. This is not only
important for their health, but also for the country’s reputation which has
been on a rise since the last couple of decades. These days Indian
sportspersons do not return from the Olympics completely empty-handed. Since
the triumph of Abhinav Bindra in the Beijing Olympics, Indian sports has
undergone a massive change with the number of sportspersons qualifying for
Olympic events increasing with every passing year. India has even managed to
win a medal in the track & field event too, which eluded the country since
the beginning of modern Olympics. But all these achievements can come to a
naught if the country cannot combat the dope menace immediately. Otherwise, the
country’s bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics may be rejected as the IOC will not
allow any nation to host the greatest show on the earth with a tainted
reputation. If India is really sincere about hosting the Olympics in 2036, it
should clear this mess at the earliest.
