WADA’s ‘sting operation’ on Indian doping agency, said in the report- Many shortcomings in NADA, need for improvement
WADA’s report said, “WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations Division’s long-running investigation, known as ‘Operation Carousel’, began in 2018.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has found “clear evidence” that India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is not properly administering the whereabouts rule of athletes. The WADA investigation identified 12 positive tests and 97 breaches of the location rule involving 70 players. WADA’s independent Intelligence and Investigation Department published a report on Tuesday on allegations that NADA’s testing standards were not in line with the WADA Code and international standards of testing and investigation.
WADA’s ‘Operation Carousel’
WADA’s report said, “WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations Division’s long-running investigation, known as ‘Operation Carousel’, began in 2018. It found evidence that NADA did not conduct adequate testing of some players included in its Registered Testing Pool (RTP) while also failing to properly monitor the locational information of players. “The investigation monitored select sports and players within India, resulting in the identification of 12 positive tests (adverse analytical results) and 97 locational violations involving 70 players,” according to the report.
NADA lacks resources
Wada said there was clear evidence that NADA was short of resources. “Since 2016, WADA has been working closely with NADA to improve its anti-doping program,” said Gunter Younger, WADA’s Director of Intelligence and Investigations. Various corrective steps were provided during this period to deal with non-conformities with the World Anti-Doping Code and international standards.
NADA is trying to improve
“In response to tips received through our confidential information forum ‘Speak Up’, WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations Department launched ‘Operation Carousel’ which revealed clear evidence that NADA’s lack of resources meant it was not testing at an adequate level and did not have the means to satisfactorily monitor and manage the whereabouts of players included in the registered testing pool,” he added. Trying to take corrective measures and strengthen its resources.
