New Delhi, April 24: In a major success for the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) Intelligence & Investigations (I&I) unit, a tip-off from the body resulted in the confiscation of several prohibited substances, including anabolic steroids like methenolone and stanozolol, in Najafgarh following a joint operation, that included the local police.
The joint task force was led by Central Food Safety Officers (CFSOs) and also featured Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) officials, who cracked the whip on Friday following specific intelligence from NADA.
Approximately 2,800 capsules/tablets and 11 injectable units of prohibited substances, including anabolic steroids – Methenolone Enanthate, Trenbolone, and Stanozolol – were recovered.
Three hundred Methandienone and 850 Oxandrolone tablets along with 1,500 Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARMs) capsules were recovered from the premises of Gaurav Vats Nutrition, which is run by one Gaurav Vats.
All these substances are steroids banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as they can be abused for building muscle mass to gain unfair performance advantage.
Injections of Adenosine Monophosphate, a prohibited hormone and metabolic modulator that helps endurance, were also among the recoveries.
WADA President Witold Banka, who was recently in India for a conference on Intelligence and Information gathering operations of the world body, had stated that India is the world’s largest producer of banned Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).
A NADA source said it was informed about the presence of these banned substances by a “reliable source”. The body said it subsequently initiated a targeted investigation into the matter.
Following this, regulatory bodies were alerted for “necessary intervention and further action under applicable laws.”
Banka, during his visit, had acknowledged the efforts being made to address the doping problem in India, describing them as “sincere”. However, the country’s abysmal record remains a major concern given its ambition to become an Olympic host in 2036.
India has been topping the WADA’s annual list of dope offenders for the past three years and was recently placed in Category A by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which means that Indian athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping stipulations because of the “extremely high” risk of doping in the country.
Expired supplements also recovered
In addition to the illegal PEDs, FSSAI officials also identified severe violations regarding health supplements sold at the Najafgarh premises without a valid food license. “The raid uncovered 45 kg of expired Gainers and Whey Protein.”
Another 85kg of non-expired protein and Creatine have been confiscated for “further safety inspection.” (PTI)
