Govt failed to protect Elvis — Khazan

Former National champion Khazan Singh today expressed reservations over the way the doping fiasco, after the Kathmandu South Asian Federat...

Former National champion Khazan Singh today expressed reservations over the way the doping fiasco, after the Kathmandu South Asian Federation Games in September, was handled.

The Asian Games silver medallist, here for the National Aquatics meet starting tomorrow, said the government should have protected Elvis Ali Hazarika, who was reported to have failed a drug test.

“Once tests have been done before the team’s departure, why should the Kathmandu report be given importance ? How can you pass here and fail there ?” asked Khazan. “Which means the test at home

was inadequate, so why have it at all here…”

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The Indian team had been tested at a camp prior to the Games at New Delhi by the Sports Authority of India. Two swimmers were dropped after failing the test. “After the whole thing was reported, the government should have handled the affair as it is not the Swimming Federation of India’s prerogative,” added Khazan, manager of the Central Reserve Police Force squad. “Who is responsible for a young swimmer’s career ?”

Hazarika, who finished behind Railways’ Sebastien Xavier in the SAF 50m freestyle, was tested positive in the `A’ sample taken after his event, though the report was made public after the team returned.

It was later made clear that Hazarika had tested positive for a stimulant, not a steroid. Doping results are made public and action taken only after the `B’ samples come out; but the news leaked prematurely from Kathmandu.“The night before the event (September 27), I had Coldarin which contains Ephedrine,” Hazarika said today. “I spoke to SAI and explained what had happened and was cleared by them,” he added.

Hazarika learnt about the report after the organisers told the Indian Olympic Association who, in turn, informed the swimmer. But after it was learnt that 18-year-old Hazarika had unknowingly taken the medicine, he was let off.

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“It was extremely painful. I cried for 10 days, not knowing what to do. I even skipped practice till Khazan Sir convinced me that I was innocent and asked me to return,” admitted the inspector from CRPF.

Meanwhile, fellow sufferer Xavier said he was initially shocked by the news though was happy that a clarification was carried by the media immediately after. Xavier said the “dramatic” happenings had dealt a severe blow to his 12-year career as his name had appeared in the news for all the wrong reasons.

“I do 23 seconds every time in the event. If you wake me up in the middle of the night, I will do 23s. But here (in Kathmandu), I did 24s and they said I was on dope,” Xavier queried.

–AJ