2 Indian athletes barred for breaching “no-needles” policy
GOLD COAST, Australia — Two Indian athletes were banned from the Commonwealth Games on Friday and ordered to leave Australia “on the first flight available” after needles were discovered in their room at the athletes village.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin said triple jumper Rakesh Babu and race walker Irfan Kolothum Thodi had been banned from the Games and ordered to return home immediately.
It’s the second time India has been investigated here for breaching the Commonwealth Games “no-needles’ policy after a doctor with the boxing team was reprimanded last week.
Indian team official Ravinder Chaudry held a news conference later Friday and said the delegation planned to appeal the ban on Thodi.