BFI urges coaches to tackle doping, step up vigil at camps

New Delhi, Dec 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Thursday asked their High Performance Directors and coaches to up the vigil so that dope cheats are taken out from national camps.

The national federation also called for quarterly awareness sessions on the anti-doping code.

"It's very shocking and equally unacceptable to hear that 2 boxers have tested positive in doping recently. If it is an informed decision by a boxer, then it is a clear case of cheating and we should not entertain, help and assist such boxers anywhere. Victory by any means of cheating should not be acceptable to us," BFI said in a letter signed by secretary general Jay Kowli.

"However, if the boxer is innocent and it is an unfortunate development due to a genuine mistake, then we must stand by to assist him or her on all fronts. Nevertheless, to avoid such re-occurrences anytime in future - apart from observing strict vigilance/monitoring - we need to educate all our boxers, coaches, support staff on all aspects . . . not only once in a year, but ongoingly repeatedly, preferably every quarterly," it added.

Kowli sought more awareness at all age levels.

"Whether the boxer is young and inexperienced or he/she is senior & experienced - each and every person has to attend these sessions and that a proper record has to be kept. Due diligence regarding all above has to be carried out as a necessary compliance for all future camps.

"More so, all the related documentation has to be maintained in the camp to ensure continuity and all records of all the participants have to be kept so that every individual in the camp has all his/her past and present records updated and maintained for all future handling of the same."

Former Asian silver-medallist Sumit Sangwan and Neeraj Phogat were caught in the dope net.

Source: IANS