Foundation laid for dope laboratory

Seventeen years after the Sports Authority of India set up a Dope Control Centre and after several cases of dope violations.

Seventeen years after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) set up a Dope Control Centre (DCC) and after several cases of dope violations, India will at last have its first fully-accredited National Dope Test Laboratory (NDTL), thanks to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Laying the foundation stone for the laboratory near the SCOPE Complex adjacent to the Nehru Stadium, Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said the New Delhi laboratory will be the sixth one to get WADA accreditation in the region after Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok and Penag.

“We need to combat the doping menace at all costs. This is the first step towards that endeavour. You can expect a state-of-the-art laboratory with all modern equipment. The ministry has set aside Rs 30 crore for the purpose and the WADA accreditation will be obtained by March 2008, six months ahead of the Pune Commonwealth Youth Games,” he said.

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Aiyar also said that his ministry has got the cabinet approval for signing the UNESCO agreement. “By sheer coincidence, we will be the sixth nation to sign the agreement from the region.”

Elaborating on the need for a fully-accredited laboratory, Aiyar said that the two-storey building coming up in a 2,700 square metre area will be seismic resistant, and will be handed over by the CPWD well in before the 2010 Games.

He also said there was no apprehenshion about New Delhi hosting a very “good Games” and all construction work, including the new venues, will be ready by the end of 2009.

Joint secretary I Srinivas, who will also be the CEO of the lab, said the DCC has made all the right moves towards getting a permanent accreditation. “We have roped in the expertise of the Tokyo laboratory and are making good progress,” he said.