PIL seeking State Anti-Doping Agency
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking State Anti-Doping Agency, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma has issued notices to Union of India through Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports Department, Secretary State Sports Council and National Anti-Doping Agency for show-causing as to why the petition be not admitted for hearing.
In the PIL filed by Advocate Arun Singh Manhas, who is also an athlete, it has been submitted that State Sports Council and Department of Youth Services and Sports are supposed to check the malpractices such as under reporting of age, doping, nepotism and favouritism for promoting fair play in the sports.
“Despite having constructive guidelines and a draft policy the Council and Department of Youth Services and Sports have failed to stop malpractices of doping-use of Anabolic Steroids and banned substances in sports”, the petitioner said, adding “the use of banned substances is on rise in most of the sports in J&K”.
He further submitted that all the national level events are scrutinized by National Anti-Doping Agency and to ascertain whether Anabolic Steroids and other banned substances are not used in the events and to have a transparency, NADA takes blood and urine samples of the sports persons pre and post competitions.
“There is no State Anti-Doping Law or Agency which can curb the menace of doping in sports in J&K”, he further submitted, adding “those sportspersons using Anabolic Steroids and other banned substances have more physical endurance and strength which creates a edge for them against those who are not using banned drugs and substances”.
The DB was apprised through the PIL that the petitioner through application under Right to Information Act came to know Department of Youth Services and Sports has not appointed any State Anti-Doping agency for curbing the use of Anabolic Steroids and other banned substances in sports.
“For the purpose of encouraging sports persons and raising their morale the department shall all along promote fairness and ethics in sports and all steps shall be taken to check malpractice of doping in sports”, the petitioner said while laying thrust on formulation of State Anti-Doping Agency.
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