pre-Commonwealth Games news

Report: Top Commonwealth Games official resigns

"It is something which is very disturbing and we do feel that the matter needs urgent attention by Indian authorities," Fennell told local television NDTV.

http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2010/8/5/sports/20100805185552&sec=sports

 

More trouble as scandal widens

Although the CGF supported the appointment of Fast Track, it strongly refutes any inference that it interfered in the selection process," Hooper told reporters.

Hooper said they never dictated a choice to the Indian organisers.

The Games have already been mired in corruption scandals.
Earlier this month two top Indian officials were fired amid corruption allegations involving the Queen's Baton Relay in London.

India's Central Vigilance Commission has also issued a report highlighting concerns regarding building practices and potential problems surrounding the certification of work on Games sites.

The Indian Organising Committee has been under pressure for more than a year since it became apparent that construction delays meant none of the Games venues would be finished before deadline.

With infrastructure projects around the city also well behind schedule, the Indian capital is in a race against time to be ready to host the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games -- the biggest sporting event here since the 1982 Asian Games. -- AP
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/29AKSDF/Article

 

India PM intervenes to rescue Games

"The successful organisation of the Commonwealth Games would be another signal to the world that India is rapidly marching ahead with confidence," Manmohan Singh said in his annual Independence Day address.

The Games, which open in the Indian capital on Oct 3, will be a "proud moment" said Manmohan, adding that no stone would be left unturned "to make it a success."

On Saturday, Manmohan gave "overriding powers" to a panel of government secretaries to take over management of the preparation work with just 50 days to go.

The move was seen as a direct slight to the chairman of the Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, who has faced increasingly vocal calls to resign amid the scandals swirling around the event.

Kalmadi, who has denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down, is a senior leader of Manmohan's ruling Congress party.

"The committee of secretaries will review implementation and it will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the organising committee," a statement from the prime minister's office said on Saturday.

"The prime minister further directed concerned ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities," it said.

"He said that those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment."
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/36hdy/Article

 

C’wealth Games boss inspects Delhi venues

“It is the media’s job to highlight deficiencies, but the impression that the Games are nothing but loot is not correct,” Dikshit told the Kolkata-based Telegraph newspaper yesterday.
“Over 90% of work is over. The delays are part of such large preparations. It was seen in China, in Greece and elsewhere. I can assure people that Delhi will be a much better place after the Games.”
Top Commonwealth sports stars like athletes Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, tennis stars Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur, and ace cyclist Chris Hoy, have decided to skip the Games. — AFP
http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2010/8/19/sports/6882114&sec=sports


today and yesterday have more than 16 badminton news in just 2 newspaper
i was lazy to post
sorry ==:crying:

 

India stunned by failed tests ahead of Games

NEW DELHI: India's sports chiefs said yesterday they were shocked at the growing number of dope offenders ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games.

Four wrestlers, a shot-putter and two swimmers who were all part of India's Games squad have tested positive in recent days for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant used widely as a nasal decongestant.

Four others, who were not picked for the Oct 3-14 Games in the Indian capital, also failed drug tests conducted at the various training camps across the country.


"This is very unfortunate and brings the country a bad name," said Games spokesman Lalit Bhanot.

"The government has a zero-tolerance policy towards this."

Officials said they were surprised that the 11 athletes all tested positive for the same drug, which was included in the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier this year.


"The training camps were not held at the same place," said Rahul Bhatnagar, who heads India's National Anti-Doping Agency. "But the authenticity of our testing methods cannot be questioned.

"We have a few more results to come in yet."

Two female swimmers, Richa Mishra and Jyotsna Pansare, tested positive on Sunday, two days after three male wrestlers, Rajiv Tomar, Sumit Kumar and Masuam Khatri, female wrestler Gursharanpreet Kaur and male shot-putter Saurav Vij were suspended, pending tests of their 'B' samples.


All seven were due to compete in the Games.

Richa, the best female swimmer at the recent national aquatics championships after winning three individual gold medals, denied any wrongdoing.

"I have been tested several times before in my career and have always returned negative," she told the Indian Express newspaper.

"In fact, my father is even willing to spend money to get the test done from a different laboratory abroad."

Doping has afflicted Indian sport over the last decade with weightlifters being the chief culprits.

The Indian weightlifting federation was fined US$500,000 by the world governing body after six lifters failed dope tests last year.

The federation managed to pay only US$125,000 and was forced to take an interest-free loan from Games organisers to pay the rest of the fine and ensure its participation in Delhi 2010.



http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/32gamestun/Article
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