Worried by the taint of doping in sport, the Australian Sikh Games organising committee has taken some tough decisions to make Kabaddi safe and clean from drugs.
In the third year of the drug testing program, Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council (ANSSACC) together with the local organising committees in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane have invested over $20,000 during the last three‐year period.
ANSSACC spokesperson Mintu Brar told SBS Punjabi that they in partnership with the Sydney Organising Committee conducted a random drug testing program during the 31st Australian Sikh Games held in Sydney.
“Two players from the total thirty seven tested positive to the use of prohibited drugs that are outlined in the ANSSACC Drug Policy beyond acceptable levels.
“The players that who tested positive were found to have levels beyond the acceptable levels for either or both Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ‐ Cannabis and Opioids.
“Additionally, three players refused to participate in the drug testing process – two of those players were selected randomly and one player was initiated by an opposition team upon lodgement of objection.
Mr Brar said that the players who failed to comply will be banned for a period of 15 months.
"This means they’ll miss next year’s Sikh Games. Their respective clubs will be fined and they'll also be subjected to disciplinary demerit points.
Mr Brar also rebuked the claims that test samples were taken at the last moment that resulted in the cancellation of the final Kabaddi game.
“In total 37 tests were conducted across the three days. We’d 9 tests on Friday, 18 on Saturday and 10 tests on Sunday,” he said.
“A higher number of tests were conducted for Kabaddi due to past drug issues in this sport.
“All testing was performed by an independent company ‐ Integrity Sampling.
Gurdial Singh Rai, President of Baba Deep Singh Club Woolgoolga told SBS Punjabi that there were concerns over the implementation of the existing drug policy.
Spectators started throwing bottles and chairs in the ground to protest against the final match cacellation at the Australian Sikh Games, Sydney. Source: SBS
“We feel we’ve been specifically targeted in this competition. We had the best players who had potential to bring the trophy home.
“We strongly oppose the use of drugs in sports. We acknowledge that our players denied drug-testing, but only after the insult they felt in the in the open ground.
“We’re talking about star players who have won accolades in international tournaments including the world cup in India.
"If they want to test these international players they'd get it done through some NADA [The Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies] equivalent methodologies.
Mintu Brar said that he is interested to see if these drug-tainted players will be allowed to play in the other tournaments in Australia.
“Other federations, clubs and tournament organisers will need to apply their own rules as they deem appropriate.
“But ANSSACC recommends all tournaments should be aiming to provide a drug free environment.
“It’s very sad to see that they’re star international players who are supposed to be role models of our younger generation.
“It is important that we keep exerting pressure to make Sikh games and Kabaddi particularly clean and safe from drugs and other banned substances.
Kuldeep Singh Bassi who is the chief organizer of the PUNVEC Kabaddi World Cup, Melbourne said that some of the clubs were not happy with the handling of the drug policy at the Sikh Games.
Kabaddi match in progress at Australian Sikh Games, Sydney. Source: SBS
“In the best interest of the games, we urgently need to have a better system in place. I can tell you that some people felt that a ‘scary campaign’ was run to target a few players and clubs," he said.
Mr Bassi also addressed the concern if the ‘drug-tainted’ players will be allowed at their upcoming Kabaddi tournament.
"We've our own drug testing methodology in place for the PUNVEC Kabaddi World Cup that will be held at Melbourne on 22nd April.
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Amandeep Sidhu, President of ANSSACC told SBS that they’re committed to drug testing in order to ensure the safety of all participants, fair competition and the running of a drugs free games.
“It is disappointing and highly concerning that some clubs are failing to educate their players to the serious health risk associated with drugs to player’s personal health as well as risk of injury to self or opposition players,” said Mr Singh.
“ANSSACC requests the support of clubs, media and the Australian Sikh community to help achieve a total drug free Australian Sikh Games.
