Athletes want therapist back in camp

BANGALORE: India's top middle and long distance runners training at Coonoor under Belarussian coach Nikolai Snesarev had their way with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) acceding to their request of continuing with the services of massage therapist Anzhelika Snesareva.
Last month, SAI had quarantined Anzhelika, Nikolai's wife, diagnosed as she was with Hepatitis B during the medical tests conducted at a city hospital after her appointment as the team's masseuse for a monthly pay of $2,000.She was told not to go anywhere near the campers.
Nikolai, who was told about the development at the high-altitude camp at Coonoor, near Ooty, shot off a letter to Sports Authority of India asking them to appoint his wife as an assistant coach of the squad that he is in charge of. Even as SAI officials were studying the letter, Anzhelika quietly went about her task, working as a masseuse in Coonoor, ignoring SAI's order.
On Wednesday, nine of the 12 athletes in the camp sent a letter, of which TOI has a copy, to SAI requesting the officials to regularize her appointment. "Each of us is aware that Anzhelika is a carrier of Heptatitis B virus. We consulted our doctors and were informed that we cannot be infected by receiving massage because such type of infection can be transmitted only through blood or body fluids. We kindly request you to return our massage therapist to work with us," the athletes wrote. Just a few weeks into their training, the athletes also waxed eloquent about Anzhelika's prowess. "Each of us within our running careers receives massages from many massage therapists in different countries. But workmanship, knowledge and experience of Anzhelika exceed all of them," they said.
Under pressure, SAI relented to their plea. "The athletes even wanted us to make her the assistant coach. We told them that it wouldn't be possible. However, we have lifted the quarantine on Anzhelika and she will continue as a massage therapist," reliable sources told TOI.
The move puts the athletes in danger of getting infected with Hepatitis 'B' virus.
"SAI may have issued the order but there has been no follow-up. As a result, all the 12 athletes were forced to go to Anzhelika for massage putting them at risk to the illness. Initially, SAI had appointed a private masseuse from Ooty but apparently she was cold shouldered by Nikolai and she left in a huff after waiting for two days," camp sources told TOI.
Meanwhile, sources said that the way the letter has been drafted makes it clear that it has been vetted by Nikolai.