NEW DELHI, Aug 17 (PTI): In its bid to make the Commonwealth Games a dope-free event, the organisers today said participating athletes will be subjected to surprise dope testing to deter them from taking banned drugs.
Organising Committee said in a statement that the participating athletes from 71 Commonwealth countries will be subjected to unannounced doping control tests, anytime and anywhere during the period of the Games.
The programme, supported by the Commonwealth Games Federation, will act as a blend of deterrence, detection and education, the statement said.
The CGF has approved a test distribution plan of 1,500 doping control tests � the highest ever in any Commonwealth Games. The tests will comprise of urine, blood and breathe analysis, it said. The Organising Committee has set up doping control facilities at all competition venues and training venues at par with the international standards. These facilities will be used solely for doping control purposes after the end of the Games.
The OC, through its Doping Control Division, has trained more than 450 doping control officials for the Games. The selection and the training of these officials have been conducted in accordance with International Standards of World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). They have been selected from many streams including doctors, sports medicine experts, physiotherapists, and science graduates.
�Having internationally qualified DCOs and international standards of testing will be a great advantage for the country,� said Dr Munish Chander, Deputy Director General (Doping Control) of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
