Athletes ‘ran alone’ to win gold in some events at Khelo India University Games
Fewer participants in various athletic events at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan have raised suspicion over doping.
Fewer participants in various athletic events at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan have raised suspicion over doping.
Fewer participants in various athletic events at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan have raised suspicion over doping.
Fewer participants in various athletic events at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan have raised suspicion over doping.
The final of women's 400 m race had just one participant while the other lanes remained vacant. Manisha of Kurukshetra University, Haryana, ran alone to take gold at 59.54 seconds.
The men's 400 m hurdles final was no different as Ruchit Mori of Swarnim Gujarat Sports University ran alone to take gold in 51 seconds.
The men's 400 m final was only slightly better as two of the eight finalists showed up. S M Akash Raj of Madurai Kamaraj University and Abimanyu P of Annamalai took gold and silver in 47.48 seconds and 48.94 seconds, respectively.
In several other finals, more than half of the eight lanes were unoccupied, with just three taking part in the men's 100 m.
Some of the other major finals that had just three participants were men's Decathlon, men's 200 m, women's 200 m and women's 400 m hurdles.
It is alleged that the presence of NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) at the venue was a reason for the significant number of absentees. Other reasons cited include athletes not being granted leave and the timing of the event that falls in the off-season.
The Khelo India event, jointly organised by the Sports Authority of India and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, is projected as the largest university-level competition in the country.