CWG 2018 | India appeals against CWG’s decision on race walker KT Irfan

04/17/2018

Athletics Federation of India(AFI) lodged a formal complaint with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CWG) on Monday clarifying race walker KT Irfan is not guilty. After the incident, he was not allowed to participate for violating the No-needle policy inside the Games village in Gold Coast.

The incident on April 9 came to light when a cleaner sounded off the organizers about a needle being found in Irfan’s room. The second needle was found from triple jumper Rakesh Babu’s bag. Both Irfan and Babu’s campaign had ended before the CGF’s decision and while Irfan had finished 13th in the 20km race walk, Babu injured his knee during the qualifiers, which ruled him out of the finals. However, talking to Times Of India, India’s chef-de-mission (CDM) Vikram Singh Sisodia told only Irfan’s removal from the Village has been challenged by the AFI.

In Babu’s case, the syringe was found in his bag and India didn’t challenge the decision after seeking a legal opinion. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) contingent members and AFI officials have accepted the fact that the syringe indeed belonged to the triple jumper, as it is understood.

But, India has asked the CGF to review its sanction on Irfan since the needle was found in a cup in the athletes’ bedroom, which didn’t necessarily mean that the syringe belonged to him, or was used for injecting a performance-enhancing substance.

“If the CGF doesn’t overturn its decision the matter will be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “In that case, the AFI will have to challenge at the CAS,” said Sisodia.

CWG 2018 | India appeals against CWG’s decision on race walker KT Irfan

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