No more hiding injury; athletes to be tested before events

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28

Before the Rio Olympics, Saina Nehwal, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vikas Gowda were touted as India’s best bets to secure a podium finish at the Games. However, much to everyone’s disappointment, they all bowed out rather tamely. Later, the three athletes blamed the lack of fitness and it led to a growing suspicion that they all were carrying injuries heading into the Games.

For a long time, the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have been grappling with this perennial problem, wherein some athletes would intentionally hide their injuries to compete in major international events. 

They would train in national camps on the government expense, only to either pull out of the event at the eleventh hour citing lack of fitness or end up putting up a forgettable performance.

Medical certificate must

However, cracking the whip on such erring athletes, the Ministry has come up with guidelines to make it mandatory for athletes to submit a medical fitness certificate with SAI before competing in a tournament. 

The athletes will have to get checked by SAI-empanelled doctors or a national federation-appointed physiotherapist before appearing for a selection trial, joining a national camp or entering a competition.

“We have to keep an eye on the physical fitness of these athletes when they enter and exit the national camp,” sports secretary Injeti Srinivas said. “Similarly, for major international tournaments, obtaining a fitness certificate will be the most important requirement. We need to curb this practice of hiding the injury.”

“The tests will happen at the SAI regional centres and if the athlete is not fit, we will send him to rehab immediately. One needs to understand the importance of national camp. For the Ministry, only the best athletes, who are physically fit, should train at the camp,” he added.

Srinivas also informed that the recently-appointed panel of national observers, which includes Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar, Mary Kom, has been asked to suggest steps to the Ministry to improve the standard of national camps.