Athletes accuse coach of wrongdoing, seek action

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

Five local athletes here have complained to the UT Sports Department alleging that a coach was forcing them to pay money and to have performance enhancing steroids.

In their complaint, the trainee athletes claimed that the coach misled them, asked them for monthly fee and forced them to take steroids. They also alleged that they were being emotionally abused by the coach.

"We have been asked to do all this by our coach. However, we have now complained to the authorities. This is no way of getting coached, this is humiliation," said a 22-year-old athlete, who has been training under the same coach from the last three years.

Other trainees are said to be above 17 years of age.

"We will also meet the higher authorities," said another athlete.

Meanwhile, Tejdeep Singh Saini, Director, Sports, UT, confirmed that a complaint had been made by the athletes against a coach.

"The athletes have submitted a complaint to the District Sports Officer (DSO) and the matter is being looked into. There was no past complaint against him (coach). Knowingly giving money and taking steroids is equally wrong on part of the athletes. However, we still have to find what has happened actually," said Saini.

Some other trainees though came out in support of the coach. "The coach has supported many athletes and even helped them bag some sponsorships. Perhaps there is some conspiracy in all this as he (coach) was likely to get a permanent job in the department," said an athlete, who didn't wish to be named. "Since a complaint has been made formally, things need to be crystal clear."

Sources, meanwhile, confirmed that the Sports Director and the DSO held a preliminary inquiry into the matter and interacted with the athletes and support staff at the coaching centre.

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