Commonwealth Games Court Reprimands Indian Doctor Over Syringe Use

A doctor with the Indian boxing team at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 was reprimanded for using a syringe even though there’s a “No Needle” policy at the venue. A probe was earlier undertaken against Indian boxers to check for doping after the syringe was found, following which the team was given a clean chit on April 2.

The Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) of India was asked to appear for a hearing at the Federation Court, the organization’s disciplinary body, on April 3. The Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) court decided that a “strong written reprimand” would suffice for Dr. Amol Patil, after he said that he gave a Vitamin B injection to a boxer without advance notice to games organizers.

The organizers had said earlier that the violation was not anti-doping, the Associated Press reported.

“This matter is not defined as an anti-doping rule violation, but rather as an infringement of the CGF’s no needle policy, which has been introduced by major events organizers to ensure best medical practices,” a CGF spokesperson was quoted as saying earlier.

With the “No Needle” policy to prevent doping incidents, athletes can use syringes only to administer prescribed medication or nutritional supplements under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

When the syringes were found at the athletes’ village on March 30, it led to speculation about a doping case. Patil had not declared or sought approval prior to arriving to take needles into the village for medical practitioners or athletes with a condition requiring injections such as diabetes. He had left the needles in a room at the Commonwealth Games village, which was against the rules as they had to be stored at a restricted secured location. He had gone looking for an authorized waste bin to dispose them when they were found.

He sent information to the medical commission before noon the day after the needles were discovered and avoided any sanctions for a separate breach of the regulations.

“While the doctor did not file an Injection Declaration Form as required by the No Needle Policy, following the investigation into the discovery of the needles, and after due enquiry, he complied with the direction of the commission and emailed information which, in the Court’s view, is substantially similar to the information required on the injection declaration form,” the CGF’s court said in a statement.

Indian boxing coach Santiago Nieva had told the media earlier that one of the boxers in the 12-member team was administered a vitamin supplement since he was unwell.

The boxers, gymnastics and weightlifters’ contingents of India were tested for doping.