Rare sporting scenes at India’s regional athletics championships: Several competitors pulled out of the competition after agents from India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) turned up at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.

According to AFP, the Delhi state athletics championships “turned into a farce” after a video was shared on social media on Monday showing a locker room full of syringes and boxes of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that increases the concentration of red blood cells. . cells and improves sports results.

As a result of the presence of NADA agents at the stadium in New Delhi, the number of participants on the last day of the competition was reduced by half.

Lalit Kumar was alone in the 100m final, while the other seven withdrew, citing muscle problems or cramps.

“I was looking forward to playing against the best, but no one came. Everyone was afraid of the inspection. As an athlete, I am very offended and disappointed” – Lalit Kumar for Indian Express.

There was also only one competitor in the U16 hammer throw final.

During the 3000m steeplechase, a young woman ran even harder after crossing the finish line to avoid an anti-doping agent following her to test her.

Several athletes chose not to participate in the awards ceremony, fearing that they would have to undergo anti-doping tests.

Sandeep Mehta, secretary of the Delhi Regional Athletics Federation, warned that anti-doping officers had the power to check those who went missing.

“We will ban positive athletes and also recommend that the National Athletics Federation do the same” – Sandeep Mehta.

Indian sports have been rocked by a series of doping scandals at the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Approximately 45 athletes with a positive test have been suspended since the beginning of the year.

And according to the latest report of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), India ranks second in the list of countries with the largest number of violations of anti-doping rules after Russia, writes News.ro.