New drug, age-verification test in cross-country run
20 Oct 2012 8:21 AM IST
As the 18th edition of the Salwan Cross Country Marathon, said to be the biggest race for school students in the world, readies for flagoff, it has introduced a new drugs and age-verification test.
The cross country run, which has been an annual feature for the past 17 years has in its current edition made provisions to counter fake entries in the final line-up, as much as to uphold its principle of ‘running with honour.’
‘In past I have snatched numbers from the chests of over- aged runners. These boys who clearly were over 18 would participate in lower categories and thought they would get away with it.
‘So, from this year, we have brought in a formal system where the age of final top runners would be tested and verified, after the run, along with dope testing,’ says Inder Dutt, founder and organiser of Salwan Marathon in an interview.
The run, which kicks off on November 4, is expected to see over 45,000 runners across various categories, namely, race for under 14 years and under 16 years in separate categories for boys and girls race for under 18 years boys/girls].
Around 1,500 visually impaired and intellectually challenged students will run the special 4.5 km run which Unicef and FICCI are supporting.
Dutt, a trustee of the Salwan Education Trust, which runs various schools in India, said that it troubled him, to see students resorting to cheating to earn prizes as his very intention of starting this run were to ‘inculcate a sense of pride and self-discovery through the physical and philosophical power of running.’
‘I make children run to inspire them and drugs and dishonesty will certainly not be tolerated if resorted to,’ adds Dutt, who picked up running religiously at his alma mater Sherwood school in Nainital.
To achieve the desired end of free and fair competition Salwan has roped in the services of Fortis Hospital and Religare corporation, and Medical and Anti-Doping Member, Indian Olympic Committee, Dr Bharatinder Singh has been appointed as the Director ? Medical of the Salwan Marathon.
‘Most youth sports globally are classified on basis of chronological age to guarantee equal chances within each of different groups. The pressure resulting out of the desire for reward, fame or prestige not only for the athlete but for the coach and his or her entourage has resulted in the use of performance enhancing drugs. I salute the organisers of the Marathon for their decision to test both age and for drugs in the event,’ says Singh. ‘They would be the pioneers in testing for age and drugs as a private institution conducting a tournament,’ adds Dr Singh, who was also the Chief Medical Officer, Commonwealth Games 2012.
The cross country run, which has been an annual feature for the past 17 years has in its current edition made provisions to counter fake entries in the final line-up, as much as to uphold its principle of ‘running with honour.’
‘In past I have snatched numbers from the chests of over- aged runners. These boys who clearly were over 18 would participate in lower categories and thought they would get away with it.
‘So, from this year, we have brought in a formal system where the age of final top runners would be tested and verified, after the run, along with dope testing,’ says Inder Dutt, founder and organiser of Salwan Marathon in an interview.
The run, which kicks off on November 4, is expected to see over 45,000 runners across various categories, namely, race for under 14 years and under 16 years in separate categories for boys and girls race for under 18 years boys/girls].
Around 1,500 visually impaired and intellectually challenged students will run the special 4.5 km run which Unicef and FICCI are supporting.
Dutt, a trustee of the Salwan Education Trust, which runs various schools in India, said that it troubled him, to see students resorting to cheating to earn prizes as his very intention of starting this run were to ‘inculcate a sense of pride and self-discovery through the physical and philosophical power of running.’
‘I make children run to inspire them and drugs and dishonesty will certainly not be tolerated if resorted to,’ adds Dutt, who picked up running religiously at his alma mater Sherwood school in Nainital.
To achieve the desired end of free and fair competition Salwan has roped in the services of Fortis Hospital and Religare corporation, and Medical and Anti-Doping Member, Indian Olympic Committee, Dr Bharatinder Singh has been appointed as the Director ? Medical of the Salwan Marathon.
‘Most youth sports globally are classified on basis of chronological age to guarantee equal chances within each of different groups. The pressure resulting out of the desire for reward, fame or prestige not only for the athlete but for the coach and his or her entourage has resulted in the use of performance enhancing drugs. I salute the organisers of the Marathon for their decision to test both age and for drugs in the event,’ says Singh. ‘They would be the pioneers in testing for age and drugs as a private institution conducting a tournament,’ adds Dr Singh, who was also the Chief Medical Officer, Commonwealth Games 2012.
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