Russian coaches spread 'dope culture' in India

Patiala, Aug 13 (UNI) With two junior Greco Roman grapplers, Gagandeep Singh of Punjab and Kiran Varpe of Maharashtra, testing positive for taking banned substances the other day, doping scandal in India seems to be alive and kicking, bringing the country to shame.

Indian athletes have been on a 'high' for quite some time and they continue to persist with their "high-spirited performances" due to the ham-handed attitude of the authorities in stamping out the menace of doping.

"Everyone else is doing and why can't we" is the oft repeated reasoning of senior sports officials in India.

The doping menace in India is certainly growing, and growing at a rapid pace. The culprits are the coaches from the Russian States, who are doing immense harm to Indian sport.

These coaches are clandestinely prescribing banned substances to Indian sportspersons fearlessly. The 'dope culture' is spreading fast in India, and if the trend continues, India could well be right in the forefront of tainted countries in the eyes of WADA.

UNI has in its possession original and photocopies of the documents which expose the dirty act of the Russian coaches who come to India from time to time. This murky scenario is tarnishing India's image in the eyes of the sports world.

The sports ministry at the Centre must step in to stem the rot that plagues Indian sport today. The dedication and perseverance one saw in Indian sportspersons in the past is now totally missing since performance-enhancing drugs are easily available to achieve fame under the surveillance of Russian coaches in the shortest time.

Indian sportspersons should take a leaf out of Abhinav Bindra's book, who toiled diligently overs the years with exemplary dedication to clinch a gold medal in Beijing Olympics in 10m Air Rifle shooting.

UNI XC-HS BK1444