Anti-doping agency collects Vijender’s samples

April 4, 2013

Vijender

New Delhi, Apr 4: Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh’s samples were collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on Wednesday, apparently for the purpose of testing him for his alleged drug use.

Vijender was alleged to have taken heroin 12 times, according to the Punjab Police.

The boxer’s samples were taken this morning in the capital, sources confirmed.

The 27-year-old boxer had been linked with recreational drugs after an NRI in Punjab was found with drugs worth Rs 130 crores at his home.

With Vijender, who won a bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, keeping a low profile, the Sports Ministry on Monday “requested” NADA to conduct tests on him. The ministry found the reports linking the boxer with drugs “disturbing” and felt it could have a “debilitating influence” on other sportspersons.

Sports secretary P K Deb, who also looks after the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), said they had specifically asked NADA to conduct tests for heroin consumption.

It is to be seen how NDTL would test his samples, or a few other samples as well, for an ‘in-competition’ substance (heroin) as the samples it would receive would be from ‘out-of-competition’.

Even though Deb insisted that Vijender’s samples would be tested with the samples of other athletes, it remains to be seen how the identity of the athlete in this case could be kept under wraps. With NDTL having no facility for hair testing, it is logical to assume that NADA would have taken the blood and urine samples of Vijender. However, even if the boxer’s samples turn out to be ‘positive’, he could not be tried for committing an anti-doping rule violation as heroin does not come under the substances listed in the ‘out-of-competition’ batch in the WADA Prohibited List and the rules expressly rule out sanctions in such cases.

As per the ruling of International Standards, Laboratories, 2012: “Laboratories may undertake other forms of testing, within the limits of the Code of Ethics, which are not under the scope of WADA Accreditation (e.g. Equine testing, Forensic testing). Any such testing shall not be covered by WADA Accreditation.”

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has urged the boxer to go for a rehabilitation if found guilty.

“I will wait for the results before deciding on any action. I don’t want to speculate. But even if Vijender has made a mistake, he should of course be punished or penalised, but after that his rehabilitation should start,” he said.

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News Network
February 9,2020

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Indian Fed Cup team will travel to Dubai for this year's competition as the ITF has named the desert city as the new venue for the matches, to be held from March 3 to 7.

The ITF named the new venue after moving out the matches from then Chinese city of Dongguan due to Coronoavirus threat. The Asia/Oceania Group I matches were originally scheduled to be played from February 4-8.

"The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep. and Uzbekistan - compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April," an ITF release said.

The six teams will vie for two spots in Fed Cup Play-offs.

"Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournament to play under their belt," India's Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told news agency.

Sania's participation was under doubt due to a calf injury she aggravated during the Australian Open, where she pulled out of the mixed doubles before retiring mid-way into her women's doubles opening round match.

"I think we have a good chance but we will have to be at our best and fight hard for every point, every game, every set, every match," Uppal added.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Colombo, Aug 1: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his interest in playing the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), scheduled to start from August 28.

Pathan is among 70 foreign players to have shown interest in playing the LPL, ESPNcricinfo reported.

It is believed that Pathan has taken permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take part in the competition. 

BCCI doesn't allow active players to participate in other T20 leagues but Pathan announced his retirement in January this year.

Former swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also played in a foreign league last year. He played for Maratha Arabians in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pathan will now be put in a player draft unless one of the five franchises choose him to be a marquee player. The details of the draft, and the franchise owners, are yet to be finalised and announced. 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is also waiting on some government clearances even as it decides on franchise owners. The five franchises will represent Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.

On Monday, SLC Executive Committee granted approval for the tournament.

"The 23 match League will be played on the four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium. Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League," SLC said in a statement on Monday.

Sri Lanka has controlled the spread of COVID-19 better than many other cricket-playing nations.

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News Network
April 7,2020

London, Apr 7: Bowling coach Waqar Younis feels that it was the absence of pacers Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir which saw Pakistan getting whitewashed during Australia tour last year.

Amir and Riaz had quit the red-ball format ahead of the matches against Australia in 2019.

"Just before the Australia series, they ditched us and we had the only choice to pick youngsters.

We were the new management and decided to go on with taking in the younger lot and groom them. ESPNcricinfo quoted Younis as saying.

Pakistan was not able to win a single match in Australia as they got defeated both in T20Is and Test series.

"It's not like we have lost a lot, but yes they left us at the wrong time. But anyway, we don't have any grudge against them," Younis added.

"We cannot control players' choice on what they want to play, but then there should be a mechanism so we all are on board. "It's not like I am saying we could have won in Australia but we could have done better than what we have done," he opined.

Amir gave up the red ball format in July in order to manage his workload and extend his white-ball career for Pakistan as well as in T20 leagues around the world, while Riaz took an "indefinite break" from Test cricket in September last year.

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