New Delhi:
Against the backdrop of a series of positive dope tests, Sports Minister M S Gill said on Tuesday that the national federations should introduce educational programmes to make the sports persons aware of the doping menace.
"The federations should make the sports persons aware of this thing. We are doing our bit and the federations better launch education (programmes) for their sportspeople so that nobody is caught in ignorance," Gill said.
"The message to the athletes is what I often give. It is true that we do want lots of medals in the Commonwealth Games. But even if we get one we want that medal with honour," Gill said at the day-long Conference of the Sports Ministers of the States.
Gill's comment came five days after the country faced a major embarrassment with four wrestlers - Rajiv Tomar, Sumit, Mausam Khatri and Gursharanpreet Kaur - being removed from India's CWG squad for flunking National Anti Doping Agency's tests.
Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh were the other two wrestlers who failed to clear the tests.
The 'B' samples of the six wrestlers yesterday turned out to be positive for stimulant methylhexanamine, which was added as a banned substance only this year by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
His comment also assumes significance as 18 athletes have been caught for using banned substances in the past few days under NADA tests.
Gill was also miffed with the repeated postponement of the 34th National Games and lashed out at the Indian Olympic Association, saying the IOA should consult the government in future before allotting the multi-sport event to any State.
"National Games is very important for us, but the IOA is allotting the event to the States like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in the manner Commonwealth Games Federation or the International Olympic Council allots their Games to different countries.
"Its like gifts to the states. The IOA people have personal interest and desire, I understand this business. I would say that in future the IOA should consult us before allotting the National Games," Gill said.
The 34th National Games, which was originally scheduled in Jharkhand in 2007 has been postponed five times by the IOA, the latest being in October last year.
Asked about the Commonwealth Games, the Minister admitted that the weather is a concern.
"The weather is surely a concern but the SAI has done its work in time and all the venues are ready," he said.