New Delhi, Aug 23: National Anti-Doping Agency has caught 248 sportspersons for doping in the last two-and-half years out of which 138 have been handed bans, according to Sports Minister Ajay Maken.

In a written reply to a question at the Lok Sabha, Maken said that since its inception on January 1, 2009 till June 30 this year, the NADA has collected 6607 samples and 248 had returned positive for banned substances.

Maken also gave statistics of dope offenders during the period from 1991 to 2008 when the Dope Control Centre conducted the collection and testing of samples of sportspersons. From 1991 to September 2008, the DCC collected 14767 samples, out of which 670 returned positive.

On a question regarding how the government plans to tackle the menace of doping, Maken listed the initiatives taken by the Sports Ministry.

"Increasing the frequency of testing of Core Probables undergoing training at various centres for London Olympics; Surprise checking of rooms of athletes, coaches and support personnel at training institutes and collection of samples; distribution of educational materials related to dope; closer surveillance and vigilance on coaches and support personnel through their employers," Maken said.

According to Maken, the terms of reference of the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee which is inquiring into the recent athletics doping scandal are: to determine the facts and circumstances leading to dope incidents; to examine reasons for such large scale prevalence of doping and modus operandi involved, including availability of prohibited substances in and around training camps/competitions; to inquire into the role of agencies involved; to suggest remedial measures to improve the protocols of dope testing so that such lapses do not happen in future.

PTI