Nine more kabaddi players flunk dope test

Nine more kabaddi players were caught, on Thursday, for using banned steroids, taking the total number of dope flunked players who were tested early this month during the selection trials of the World Cup to 19.

On Wednesday, the National Anti-Doping Agency announced that 10 out of 21 kabbadi players, whose test results were available, have returned positive for banned substances. On Thursday, the results of the remaining 29 urine samples were available and nine were found to have contained banned steroids.

Altogether, 50 kabaddi players were tested during the selection trials in Ludhiana early this month.

"Selection Trial (Men) of Second World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab 2011 was held at Ludhiana on 5th October 2011 and the Dope Control Programme was organised by NADA as per the request of Punjab Government. A total of 51 urine samples were collected and deposited in the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) on the 6th October 2011," NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar said.

"Out of Laboratory analytical reports in respect of another 29 samples received from NDTL today, 09 samples have been found positive, making the total of positive cases to 19 out of 50 samples. The prohibited substances found in these 09 cases are stanozolol, methendinone, Trenbolone, Drostanolone nandrolone, phentermine(stimulant)," he said.

Bhatnagar said that NADA has decided that it will try and test every player participating in the second kabaddi World Cup.

"The alarming situation that has come to light in the wake of such a large number of positive cases, calls for stringent action on the part of the organizers of the Event. Director Sports, Punjab has been advised to establish thecredentials and bonafides of the visiting teams and also seek Dope Free Certificates from each player of the visiting teams before they are allowed to participate," he said.

"A long term programme of education and counselling is also required to be put in place," he added.