Revelation stirs a hornet's nest

HYDERABAD: Double gold medalist at the last National Games, Udaya Laxmi’s hard-hitting revelation has stirred a hornet’s nest. With the doping issue already marring the clean and perfect image of the Games that were held here last year, Laxmi’s statement has put the officials of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Athletic Association in a piquant situation.
It is an undeniable fact that the officials and coaches were keen on realising the dream of a Swarnandhra Pradesh by seeing that the state garnered maximum medals.The drive for gold now seems to have boomeranged on the officials. But did the officials really encourage the athletes to take drugs?
Laxmi was not available for comment. However, her husband Bhasker said that Laxmi had never said that the officials had asked athletes to take drugs. “All she said was that the officials and coaches had asked the athletes to do anything but get as many medals as possible.�
Bhasker, however, confirmed the Railways athlete’s assertions about the drug tests. They had said that the drug test was just a formality and the reports would be confined to the dustbins. They also promised to manage things if any one was caught.
K. Ranga Rao, secretary, APAAA, said there was no truth in Laxmi’s statement. “We have never asked anyone to take drugs. For the record, Laxmi and Kalyani were not in our camps. They were under their own coaches and as such Laxmi’s statement is baffling. Since there was so money much involved, these athletes have resorted to such unethical behaviour. But now that they are caught, they are trying to shift the blame on to us.�
He added that Laxmi will be served a show-cause notice soon. The man under the microscope, L.V. Subrahmanyam, the vice-chairman and managing director of the SAAP, said he was shocked to hear about Laxmi’s revelations. He was surprised that Laxmi had never complained about it before. “She had ample opportunities to bring this to my notice. I cannot understand why she remained silent all this while and is now making a hue and cry after being caught. I am willing to still listen to her if she comes and meets me personally and gives her statement. And if she proves her allegations then strict action will be taken against the erring officials,� he thundered. The focus now has shifted to the role of the officials and coaches. Is this just a tip of the iceberg? The coming week may see more skeletons tumbling out of the closet.