Sad day for Indians in Finland

Yesterday was a sad day for us Indians in Finland when it was announced by the world governing body on athletics that India's discus thrower, Neelam Jaswant Singh (34), had tested positive for a banned drug during the 10th World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has provisionally suspended Neelam. She tested positive for pemoline -- a CNS stimulant, from a sample taken during the preliminary round on August 7 2005.

She failed to qualiify for the finals as she only managed a throw of 56.70 m, far below her personal best of 64.55 which won her a gold medal in the 2002 Busan Asiad in South Korea.

Neelam has been provisionally suspended under IAAF rules pending a hearing before the relevant disciplinary tribunal of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The sanction for a first-time violation for pemoline is a minimum of two years.

Neelam is NOT ONLY THE ONLY athlete to be tested positive in these games, but also the first to be tested positive in the World Championships!!

Just when we were rejoicing the good showing of Indian Anju Bobby George who came 5th in the Women's Long Jump, this was indeed sad news for us Indians in Finland.

Anju began with a bang and recorded 6.66 m in her very first attempt, her season's best effort. In her subsequent jumps, the world no 5 jumper recorded 6.59, 6.57 and 6.51 before wasting the fifth. In her last attempt, Anju, who had won bronze medal in 2003 World Championship in Paris - leapt 6.56. American teenager, Tianna Madison, won the title with a personal best of 6.89 metres. Madison, 19, who recorded the longest jump in qualifying, took the lead from Olympic bronze medallist Tatyana Kotova of Russia in the penultimate round. Kotova was second with 6.79 metres and France's defending champion, Eunice Barber, third with 6.76.

"Anju was born on April 19th, 1977 in Cheeranchira Kochuparambil family in Changanasseri, Kerala. her parents K.T. Markos and Gracy. She was initiated into athletics by her fathe. Interest was furthered by her trainer, Mr. Thomas, in Koruthode School.

Anju did her schooling in St. Anne's High School and CKM Koruthode School. She graduated from Vimala College. In the School Athletic meet in 1991-92, she came first in 100 m hurdles and relay and second in long jump and high jump events and became the women's champion. Anju's talent was noticed in the national schools games where she won third place in 100 m hurdles and 4x100 m relay. She was the Calicut University Champion during her college days.

She started as a Heptathlon athlete but she later began to concentrate on her jump events. She won long jump medal in the 1996 Delhi junior Asian championship. In 1999 Anju set the national record for triple jump in the Bangalore Federation Cup and Silver medal at the South Asian Federation Games in Nepal. In 2001 Anju bettered her own record in long jump to 6.74 m, her best till date in the National Circuit Meet at Thiruvananthapuram. In the same year she also won gold for triple jump and long jump in the Ludhiana National games.

Anju reigned supreme in her events in the Hyderabad National games also. Anju became the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal clearing 6.49 m at the Commonwealth Games at Manchester 2002. She also won the gold medal at the Busan Asian Games.

Anju was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2003 for eminent sports persons from the government of India after her success in the World Athletic meet.

Anju ranks 3rd in the world. Anju's jump from rank 61 in 2001 to rank 3rd in 2003 within a short span of two years, was one of hard work and planning. The credit for her success is shared with her husband and coach, Bobby George, who according to her was the biggest influence who helped her in realising her potential and achieving the goal.

Bobby who is a Mechanical Engineer and a former National Champion in Triple jump himself. He gave up his career to become a full time coach to Anju in 1998. He belongs to a prestigious sports family and is the younger brother of the famous Volley ball player Jimmy George. Anju and Bobby, realising that international exposure is essential for competing in world class events made necessary arrangements and trained with Mike Powell, a world record holder before the World Athletics meet which gave her valuable exposure in technique." (Data about Anju from WebIndia123.com.)

Yu Weili, team manager of the Chinese national team, said in Helsinki on Tuesday, that a total of 17 Chinese athletes out of the 34 competing in the 10th world athletics championships were tested for drugs. Blood tests were carried out on 10 athletes including all 9 walkers.

It should be noted that athletes from all the other countries and regions were also treated the same way. Helsinki has seen the most strict doping control in athletics history.

The Finns are very sensitive to doping since the scandal erupted at the Lahti Nordic World Skiing Championships in 2001. This is after the national shame caused by distance runner Martti Vainio, who was tested positivein Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

The Martti Vainio case was historic, as was reported in
The Inside Dope, By Daniel Yi on Jul 01 '05:

PRIOR TO THE 1984 ROTTERDAM MARATHON, Martti Vainio pumped his body full of anabolic steroids. These hormones went to his working muscles and caused them to produce a flood of protein. The extra protein allowed his body to run both faster and longer.

One of a group of accomplished distance runners known as the "Flying Finns," Vainio was also an incorrigible doper. By 1984, Vainio was using up to 27 different artificial supplements on any given day. He had also begun experimenting with various sex hormones, to great effect. The drugs helped Vainio hit his peak at 33, an age when most distance runners are declining. At Rotterdam, the benefit of Vainio's drug use was on full display as he cruised to an impressive third-place finish. Unfortunately for him, his doping was also easily detected, and he was nailed for using illegal steroids....

more....

Restoring credibility requires honesty and openness. The Finns have gone some way along this path and it is hoped that the Indsian authorities will clamp down hard on a practice which is abhorent. It does not matter whether the Indians win any medals, but let their competition at all levels be fair and above board.