The Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games was on Friday left thoroughly embarrassed after race walker K T Irfan and triple jumper V Rakesh Babu were ordered to head back home for violating the event's 'no needle policy', a decision which the national olympic body vowed to challenge even as the athletics federation set up a probe panel.
"Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi are, with immediate effect, not permitted to participate in the Games. The accreditation of Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi was suspended with effect from 09:00 hours on April 13, 2018. Both athletes were removed from the Games Village," the Commonwealth Games Federation President louise Martin said in a strongly-worded statement. "We have asked the Commonwealth Games Association of India to ensure both athletes depart Australia on the first flight available," it added.
India spoke in different voices on the matter. While the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promised to punish after an inquiry following the Games, the Indian Olympic Association said it would appeal against the decision taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation's court. While Irfan is already through with his 20km race walk event, finishing 13th, the 28-year-old Rakesh Babu was to participate in Friday's triple jump final after qualifying 12th for the competition but was ruled out Thursday owing to a knee injury.
In a hurriedly-convened press conference after the embarrassment, the Indian contingent officials said they would appeal the judgement.
"We don't agree with some decisions and we will discuss with our higher authorities. We will appeal against these decisions," General Team Manager, Namdev Shirgaonker said at the press conference, attended by the Indian chef-de-mission Vikram Sisodia here.
This was the second needle controversy in which India got itself tangled in after the matter involving an unidentified boxer on the eve of the Games ended with reprimand for not following due procedure in disposing of a used syringe. The CGF had cleared India of any declaration violation at that time.
The Commonwealth Games Federation Federation Court heard the latest complaint on Thursday after it was brought to its notice by the CGF Medical Commission.
The CGF court issued a strong warning to Sisodia, Shirgaonker and Athletics Team Manager, Ravinder Chaudhry for not ensuring compliance with the no needle policy of the CGF. Athletes are barred from using syringes unless there is prior declaration made to the medical commission or a declaration is made within 24 hours of usage.
"The testimony of athletes Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi who denied all knowledge of the needle in the cup in Bedroom 2 and the further testimony of Rakesh Babu that he had no knowledge of the syringe found in his bag in Bedroom 2 are both unreliable and evasive," the CGF said.
The AFI constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe the events. AFI President Adille Sumariwala said that the inquiry panel will be headed by former Sports Authority of India (SAI) secretary B K Sinha with one sports doctor and an official or a former athlete. "I have constituted an inquiry committee to probe and ascertain what had happened in Gold Coast which has led to this situation. B K Sinha has accepted to be the head of the panel though an official communication is yet to be sent from the AFI,” he said.