Self-medication leads to embarrassment at CWG

BANGALORE: Doctors accompanying the Indian contingent to the Commonwealth Games were carrying Rs 50,000 worth of medicines and medical equipment approved by the Sports Authority of India. Yet, several Indian athletes preferred self-medication, using syringes and vitamin boosters they had brought from India, leading to embarrassing moments in Glasgow.
Scores of syringes found in the Indian athletes' rooms led to the Commonwealth Games authorities warning the contingent thrice and extracting an assurance from the Indian team management that they would sanitise the rooms and educate the athletes about anti-doping policies.
It is not the first time that Indians have messed with syringes. But the charges this time were serious as they flouted new international rules governing multi-sport events which stated that syringes found with an athlete would lead to serious action.
According to the guidelines, athletes and team doctors are supposed to apply to the medical chief of the Games and seek authorization for use of syringes for medical injections.
Besides SAI Delhi, which sent the medical consignment consisting of multi-vitamins, proteins, syringes and other equipment along with its doctors, SAI Bangalore too had sanctioned an additional Rs 15,000 for the purpose. "All the athletes had to do was approach the doctors if they had a problem. That is the legal way of going about it. Why did they use syringes at the Village?" a top SAI official questioned.
The reason is simple: Seldom would a doctor oblige athletes. On most occasions, they would be dissuaded from opting for such injections as they provided 'little or no help in the short-term'.
"Such injections give the athletes a high. We try to convince them that they don't profit by injecting themselves. But they don't listen to us.
They administer the injections all by themselves or allow their coaches to do so," a source told TOI.