ITA (International Testing Agency) — and NADA conducted dope tests on the first day of the Asian meet

Navneet Singh

Competitors at the Asian Championship, which got underway here at Delhi’s Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, were surprised by two separate agencies collecting samples for dope tests.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) is an independent agency that oversees the anti-doping programme of several international sports federations, including ISSF. Both ITA and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) b/made their presence felt at the Asian Championships.

NADA

While NADA was conducting out-of-competition tests in the morning, it was followed by in-competition tests by ITA after the finals.

For the in-competition tests at the Asian Championship, ITA was authorised by ISSF (International Shooting Sports Federation) for fair play.

Data of shooters

“To update data of the shooters, ITA is collecting urine and blood samples of the competitors at the continental shooting meet,” one of the officials familiar with the development told Sportsbackstory.com.

“The ITA will continue to test shooters in the coming days.”

 ITA has its own dope testing programme and doesn’t coordinate with NADA. Since ITA was collecting urine samples soon after finals of the 10m air pistol, the medal ceremony got delayed today.

Confusion

Apart from in-competition dope testing by ITA, several members of the Indian shooting contingent were confused at NADA knocking the door for out-of-competition tests early in the morning on Wednesday. Elite shooters under NADA’s whereabout clause are required to provide a one-hour window each day for random dope tests by the player. The Indian shooters were tested by NADA at the official hotel accommodation today.

10m air pistol

Some of the shooters whose competition was on day-one were surprised at being subject to out-of-competition tests by NADA in the morning because it upset their routine to prepare for the 10m air pistol qualification followed by finals in men and women’s and junior men and youth men in the afternoon

“There were two dope tests in a day in a matter of few hours. One out–of-competition and one in-competition test is a bit shocking for me,” one of the parents of a medal winning shooter said.

Asian Games

Apart from Asian Games in September, this season will also feature ISSF World Shooting Championships in November, a qualifying event for 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Beta blockers, a drug banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), is mainly used in an event like shooting that requires intense focus and precision.

Indian win nine medals

Over 300 shooters from 20countries including India are competing in the 10-day long rifle and pistol competition that will conclude February 13.

India on Day-One won a total of nine medals, including six golds and two silvers to head the medal tally. Uzbekistan team was second.

EOM