Gurgaon: A day after TOI’s report on used syringes and drug packs found strewn across washrooms at the govt sports stadium in Faridabad, Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) wrote to the district administration, asking for urgent corrective action. In a letter addressed to Faridabad deputy commissioner (DC) Ayush Sinha, HOA president Capt Jasvinder Meenu Beniwal and secretary general Krishan Lal Panwar expressed serious concern over the “used syringes and suspected banned substances”, which indicate doping by athletes practising at the indoor stadium.
Calling for immediate and coordinated action, the association asked the DC to issue strict directions to the departments of sports, education and panchayat to “curb the menace”.Copies of the letter were also sent to the chief minister and the principal secretary of the sports department. The association said the objective of its move is not punitive alone, but to protect athlete welfare and “restore the credibility” of sports in Faridabad.Among the interventions it has sought are prominent display of information boards at stadiums, sports complexes and university campuses detailing banned substances and the penalties for their use, along with regular awareness drives. HOA also stressed the need for preventive measures such as mandatory counselling sessions for athletes, coaches and support staff, besides “random and surprise inspections of sports facilities to deter misuse”.The association said unchecked presence of injectable drugs and anabolic agents within public sports premises “poses a grave threat” to young and aspiring athletes and reflects poorly on the enforcement of clean-sports norms. Referring to substances such as opioids and erythropoietin analogues, the HOA underlined that their use is a clear violation of National Anti-Doping Agency rules and carries severe health risks, including long-term organ damage, hormonal imbalance and psychological dependence. The association warned that easy access to such drugs could permanently derail the careers and well-being of budding sportspersons.During a visit to the facility in Sector 12 on Monday, this correspondent found syringes and drugs — such as darbepoetin alfa, anabolic steroids and morphine sulphate — that are strictly prohibited under anti-doping regulations, as they artificially enhance stamina, suppress pain and accelerate recovery while posing severe health risks.“Darbepoetin alfa is used for anaemia related to kidney disease or chemotherapy. It boosts red blood cell production, and because it can improve oxygen-carrying capacity, it has also been misused as a doping substance by endurance athletes and swimmers,” a doctor had told TOI on Monday in response to a question about an empty pack of Dargen 40 (a darbepoetin alfa brand) that was seen lying on the floor of a washroom.Asked if the syringes could have been used by outsiders, coaches at the stadium, speaking anonymously, said it was unlikely. “This is not the work of outsiders. These are players who train here regularly, who know the timings, the blind spots and the lack of monitoring,” said a senior coach on Monday. Another added, “No outsider comes here to inject themselves in broken washrooms. These injections are being used by trained athletes chasing quick results. They think it gives instant power and speed, but in reality, it is destroying them from the inside.”
