Doping discovers rower scapegoat, coach is missing

But there’s already buzz that Lakshman was a convenient ‘‘scapegoat’’ because the Rowing Federation of India (RFI), with a poor track record of checking drugs in the sport, was desperately trying to shield the coach who had accompanied Lakshman to the Games. The RFI claimed the person who was appointed as coach for the Games was not the real coach. Even four months after the tests were condcted, RFI claimed it didn’t know the identity of Lakshman’s ‘real’ coach despite the fact that the rower won a bronze medal there.

RFI secretary CP Singh Deo said his federation was still clueless about who Lakhman’s coach was. ‘‘The person who went to Hyderabad as Lakshman’s coach is not his real coach. We are now trying to find out who the real coach is and we will then conduct an inquiry into his role,’’ Deo told The Indian Express.

A top official of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said the rower was being made a scapegoat. ‘‘The life ban is a severe punishment for a first offence,’’ pointed out the official.

There appears to be little chance that Lakhsman will get an opportunity within the country to prove his innocence. The tests can only be challenged in a court of law since they were conducted at the Sports Authority of India’s anti-doping laboratory which is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The rower tested positive for Nandrolone in both ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples tested at the SAI laboratory in Delhi. Asked if the RFI had offered an option to Lakshman to get his samples tested at an internationally-recognised laboratory, Deo replied in the negative. ‘‘I am not aware of it but I will check with the local association.’’

Lakshman’s only hope is a review of the decision by rowing’s international body. Matt Smith, executive director of the International Federation of Rowing Association, said they would review the decision once they get an official intimation from the RFI. ‘‘We will be reviewing the decision after hearing from RFI,’’ Smith told The Indian Express from Lausanne in Switzerland.

The RFI has a poor track record of checking performance-enhancing drugs in sport. Dope tests on rowers in the country have been introduced only recently. Pointing to poor anti-doping facilities in the country, Deo said: ‘‘It’s only recently that we have started conducting dope tests on rowers.’’

But as in the past, this time too sportspersons appear to be the targets and no inquiry is being initiated into the role of their coaches and officials. In the case of athlete Sunita Rani too, the Amateur Athletic Federation of India did not probe the role of her coach Renu Kohli.