GUNTUR (Andhra Pradesh): In keeping with its no-needle policy, the
Athletics Federation of India
on Saturday barred two athletes from taking part in the
National Junior Championships
here for possessing syringes.
Chandigarh's Parkash Singh and Rajasthan's
Dhananjay
were found to have syringes and vials in their bags in the Call Room, the
AFI
said in a release.
On the first day of the competitions, Haryana's Gurpreet and Himachal Pradesh's Seema clocked personal best times to win the boys under-20 10000m and girls under-20 5000m crowns at the Acharya Nagarjuna University grounds here.
In the field events, Kerala long jumper Sandra Babu caught the eye with a personal best of 6.16m.
Delhi's Arvind Sharma, silver medallist last year, won the boys under-16 discus throw with a 50.16m effort.
AFI also became the first National Sports Federation to issue biometrics card to athletes so that they do not have to undergo long age-verification process at each meet.
AFI President Adille J Sumariwalla said, “With this competition, AFI has implemented biometric unique identification process that will prove to be a game changer in tackling age fraud and cheating. We want to promote fair play and keep the sport clean.
"We want to save the genuine athletes who suffer at the hands of age frauds. Same is with doping, we are keeping a close eye during meets and follow no needle policy. Anyone caught with syringes will be suspended with immediate effect.”
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