Chautala explains HOA plan to curb drug abuse

Chandigarh, December 8 (UNI) Haryana Olympic Association president Abhey Singh Chautala today announced the launching of a extensive awareness campaign to curb the menace of drug abuse and doping in the field of sports.

Addressing a press conference here today, he proposed a proper enactment of law to prevent and abolish the growing menace of doping, 'which is ruining not only the healthy competition in sports but also destroying the general health of sportspersons'.

"It is an irony of fate and rather speaks poorly on the part of our country and also at Government of India that we do not have a single WADA accredited laboratory at national level", he added.

The HOA will make sincere efforts that one dope testing lab in each state must be established as it is a matter of paramount public importance, he added.

Chautala disclosed that as part of the ambitious plan to fight doping, a national seminar on Drug Abuses and Doping would be organized in collaboration of Jat Sabha Chandigarh, Federation of Jat Institutions at local Jat Bhawan on December 9, which will be followed by a wider awareness campaign.

Prominent doctors of international repute, expert from WADA, eminent sports personalities and experts from Sports Authority of India will be making presentation and give lectures during the seminar.

The seminar aims to provide information for strengthening national health and for participants and will also provide information on treatment approaches to reduce the ill effects of drug abuses and doping on individuals, families and communities.

Sports fraternity from Haryana as well as other parts of the country including the veterans and Olympians, educationists and students from different walks of life will be attending this seminar.

Some of the international cricketers participating in the ongoing 20-I.C.L. matches at Panchkula are also likely to attend this seminar as HOA has already extended invitation to Kapil Dev and other national and international players.

Mr Chautala announced that HOA understands the importance of the doping problem and would launch a state wide awareness campaign to guide the young generation regarding the ill effects of drugs and doping.

Teams of sports associations' representatives and doctors would visit different colleges and schools to awaken the students about the harms of drug abuse and doping. He said that drug abuse and doping not only have ill effects on the players and the games but also causes a smear on the state and the nation.

Chautala said that HOA has already framed the manifold strategy to fight the evil and educate the people at large about the health awareness programmes. He would be monitoring the campaign where as HOA secretary general and former DGP Dr M S Mailk would organise the seminars and awareness camps in urban and rural areas of the state.

Mr Chautala criticized the Haryana Government for its anti sports policies and arbitrary attitude. He criticized Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for being bent upon ruining the games in Haryana. He said that he has always believed that politics should not be mixed with the sports and governments should desist from interfering in the sports and their management.

The HOA chief said that HOA would also submit a memorandum to the Governor to give the details of "misuse" of funds under the pretext of development of sports. The HOA will take all legal steps against the persons found to be guilty of "misuse" of funds. HOA will continue to work hard with full zeal and dedication for achieving excellence in the development of sports and for the welfare of the sportspersons. HOA has already started preparations for participation in 34 th National Games scheduled to be held at Ranchi ( Jharkhand) in March 2008 and hope that brilliant sportspersons of Haryana will positively secure the top place in the National Games. Similarly HOA will try to provide all help, guidance and coaching facilities to the sportspersons in the state for achieving better status in the forthcoming Olympic Games Beijing ( China) in 2008. HOA will be also organizing state rural games as per the guidelines of IOA.

UNI