Screen courier parcels that are sent to lifters at camp: IWLF

BENGALURU: The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) has asked the Sports Authority of India to screen packages or parcels delivered to weightlifters at its national camp in NIS, Patiala.
Keen on preventing doping and avoiding embarrassing situations where athletes are caught with banned drugs, IWLF wants SAI to screen and even open shipments which the government agency feels suspicious about.
Apparently, the federation is rattled by a recent instance at the Patiala hostel where anti-doping officials found vials of banned substance meldonium in 400m hurdler Jithin Paul's bag.
"We don't want syringes, vials or dope entering the campus in any form. Since our weightlifters are at NIS Patiala, we want the authorities to take the lead. Such steps are necessary because of certain instances in the past. This move will help us in our crackdown on doping," IWLF secretary-general D Chandrahas Rai told TOI. Rai's eagerness is under standable as weightlifting in India has been known for the wrong reasons, having thrown up some high-profile cases of doping in the past.
Rai said not all packages needed to be checked. "We respect the privacy of our lifters. We have asked SAI to check only those which raise suspicion. These packages will be opened in front of officials and the weightlifter concerned."
SAI officials, meanwhile, were sceptical. "We have not implemented their suggestion yet because it is impractical. Around 400 campers of various disciplines and about 2,000 staff members and their families stay within the campus. It is not possible to identify which courier is for a weightlifter and which isn't," sources said.
"Also, we do not have the authority to open all packages that we receive. It is not ethical. It could lead to embarrassing situations and we could be in trouble legally. Instead, the IWLF should ensure that their campers don't order anything by courier," they said.