No question of tampering with samples of shot putter Inderjeet Singh: NADA boss

Rio Olympics-bound Inderjeet Singh's A sample taken out of competition on June 22 had returned positive on Monday for a cocktail of steroids.

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Delhi: The chief of anti-doping agency Navin Agarwal has rubbished allegations by shot putter Inderjeet Singh of sample tampering.

Singh, 28, had charged that his samples were tampered with. 

Without naming Inderjeet, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) director general Agarwal told Mail Today - "I cannot talk about any particular athlete. If any athlete feels their samples were tampered with, they can get their 'B' sample tested. In my experience I have never come across a case of tampering. There is absolutely no possibility of tampering as the system is foolproof."

He was further quoted as saying by the website - "He tried to skip a dope test in June. We recorded it as a whereabouts failure in our books. He was clean before that.”

Inderjeet cries conspiracy: 

Meanwhile, the dope sample of Singh taken on June 29 during National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Hyderabad has returned clean but the case relating to his earlier A sample which came out positive still stands, according to sources.

Rio Olympics-bound Inderjeet's A sample taken out of competition on June 22 had returned positive on Monday for a cocktail of steroids and he has been told by NADA to have his B sample tested within seven days, failing which his dope failure will be confirmed.

It has now emerged that the sample taken on June 29 has returned negative, but sources said National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) will proceed on the June 22 dope flunk case.

"It is understood that his June 29 sample was clean. NADA does so many tests on so many sportspersons that they don't say which sample is clean. NADA normally informs about dope positive cases," a source told PTI.

"But NADA will proceed on the June 22 dope positive case. June 29 sample may be clean but it doesn't change anything on June 22 sample. Inderjeet is still liable for the June 22 dope positive case," the source added.

After his 'A' sample tested positive, the NADA has asked the Haryana athlete, who had won a silver in the 2014 Asian Games, if he wants to test his 'B' sample and if so, to do this within seven days.

If the 'B' sample also tests positive, he will have to miss Rio Olympics beginning August 5, besides facing the prospect of being banned for four years under the new WADA Code.

The athelete had it was a conspiracy against him and his sample has been tampered with.

"This is a conspiracy and there is something wrong in it. This will be checked by the doctors though. I don't want to comment on it but whoever has tried to raise their voice in this country, they are forced to shut up," Inderjeet had said.

"My sample has been tampered with. Why would a player take something which is not good for his health," he added.

Inderjeet is one of those athletes who does not train at the national camps. He normally trains on his own with his personal coach.

(With Agency inputs)