Samoa Sports President sits in on Commonwealth ‘no needles’ hearing
The President of the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Fepulea’i Vincent Fepulea’i, presided in a hearing of an alleged breach of the Commonwealth Games’ no-needle policy yesterday.
Fepulea’i made up a three-member Commonwealth Games Federation Court hearing with the other two members being Richard Powers, of Canada, and David Harry, of Guernsey.
India’s boxing team had denied doping as an unnamed Commonwealth Games nation faced a Federation Court hearing.
The Commonwealth Games Federation have ruled an infringement of their policy following the discovery of syringes by a cleaner at the athletes’ village on the weekend.
In a statement late Monday night, the Federation clarified the matter was not an “anti-doping rule violation” but an infringement of the no-needle policy introduced to ensure best medical practices.
India’s high performance boxing manager, Santiago Nieva, earlier on Monday revealed a team doctor administered a vitamin injection to a sick athlete.
Mr. Nieva said any suggestions his 12-strong boxing team was doping was wrong.
“I’m confident that our boxers (have) not taken anything,” Mr. Nieva told the Seven Network.
“We had one boxer who didn’t feel very well and doctor has given him an injection.”
It’s understood the Indian Commonwealth Games Association had been summoned to a please explain meeting with Games officials on Monday after preliminary investigations indicated the needles had not been approved.
The needles were discovered by a cleaner near where the team’s boxers are staying.
Indian team manager Ajay Narang had previously responded by saying his team found syringes in a water bottle outside their accommodation and he took it to the medical Commission for analysis.
This follows Indian team officials being warned at the 2014 Glasgow Games about the use of needles and their correct disposal after syringes were found where their wrestlers and a para-athlete were staying.