Probe role of NIS director: CAT

PATIALA: The case regarding irregularities in doping tests and recovery of banned drugs from hostels in the past has left the executive director of Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, Lt Col BS Ahluwalia, in the thick of controversy.
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), while hearing a case of transfer of a medical officer posted at NSNIS, has taken serious note of the charges of doping proved against Indian athletes in Commonwealth Games as well as Asian Games.
The medical officer, doctor Sajib Kumar Nandi, in a case filed before CAT against four senior Sports Authority of India (SAI) officers, had levelled grave charges of corruption and doping. CAT has issued directions to the director general of SAI to have allegations made by the doctor thoroughly investigated by a very senior officer or a vigilance authority, particularly in the case related to suppression of evidence regarding doping tests of athletes and sportspersons.
Besides, CAT has also directed its registrar to send a copy of the judgment to the secretary, Government of India, department of sports and youth welfare, to have the allegations of Dr Nandi inquired into and, on their being confirmed, to have strong action taken against Ahlu-walia and a senior scientific officer of NIS, Patiala, Dr Ashok Ahuja.
Dr Nandi in his application submitted before CAT had made very serious allegations against Ahluwalia and Ahuja. He had submitted an affidavit regarding large scale bungling in purchases made by his superiors, to which he had not became a party.
CAT, in its judgment, expressed shock at Nandi’s allegation that he had been deputed to collect urine samples of women weight lifters and was directed not to keep a record thereof and to ensure no positive report of doping was given. Nandi had also averred that he was asked to go to hostels and verify whether there were any banned drugs there. At the same time, he was also told that he was to declare there were no banned drugs in the hostel.
Dr Nandi, however, had specifically stated that banned drugs were indeed found and later destroyed in his presence by burning. The judgment said the doctor had given specific dates and names of persons in whose presence the alleged acts took place. It said a general denial that the allegations were false and frivolous did not absolve the respondents of the prima-facie suspicion raised against them.
CAT, in its judgment, has stated that if the allegations made by Dr Nandi regarding irregularities committed during the doping tests of women weightlifters and the finding of banned drugs and their burning in hostels of SAI had been taken seriously, the country would not have had to face shame after glory.
Dr Nandi, on May 20, 2002, had written to Jasbir Singh, director (administration), SAI, NIS, Patiala, regarding alleged irregularities committed by Ahluwalia and Ashok Ahuja and had sought permission to apprise CBI of the corruption under official patronage. Following this, he was transferred to Bangalore and later to Gandhinagar. He had knocked CAT’s door against these orders.