Jaisha refused drinks at Rio: Ministry

New Delhi: Long-distance runner OP Jaisha had made false allegations that she was not provided any water or a specialised energy drink by India’s technical officials during the marathon at the Rio Olympics, according to the Sports Ministry panel set up to probe Jaisha’s allegations.

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 17

Long-distance runner OP Jaisha had made false allegations that she was not provided any water or a specialised energy drink by India’s technical officials during the marathon at the Rio Olympics, according to the Sports Ministry panel set up to probe Jaisha’s allegations.

The two-member panel of joint secretary (sports) Onkar Kedia and director (sports) Vivek Narayan, which handed over the report to Sports Minister Vijay Goel today, concluded that water facilities were available at every five kilometres.

The report added that team manager CK Valson had done the recee of the route a day before the marathon to check the facilities available and that it was Jaisha who had turned down Athletics Federation of India’s request to administer the specialised drink along the route.

The panel found out that Jaisha’s coach Nikolai Snesarev had to make the arrangements. But in the absence of any instruction from Jaisha, Snesarev made no arrangements. The 33-year-old marathoner from Kerala chose to quench her thirst by getting water from the stations set up by the organisers.

The panel also came up with certain recommendations for marathons and distance races to avoid any such future incident. From now on, every long-distance runner will have to give in writing to the AFI whether he/she wants a specialised drink and refreshments alongside the race route.

Two-time Asian Games bronze medallist Jaisha, who had finished 89th, had alleged that she had almost died after fainting at the finish line due to severe dehydration. She was administered seven bottles of glucose at a hospital and regained her consciousness after three hours.

According to Jaisha, all the participating athletes in the marathon had their country’s stall with water, biscuits and energy drinks at every 2.5 km. “But, sadly, our country’s stall was empty. There was no technical official from India present at the stall to give me drinks,” she had said on her return from Rio.

AFI had denied the allegations, saying she had told her coach that she wouldn’t need a specialised drink.