Caught before the sporting extravaganza could unfold, it has saved the country from a major embarrassment. The athletes, who participated in the 60th All India Police Athletics Championship (AIPAC) organised here between March 12 and 15 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, failed to clear the doping test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

“The reports of the six athletes — two from Punjab Police and one each from the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Odisha Police —were found positive,” Rahul Bhatnagar, director general, NADA, told IANS. Expressing concern over the players failing the doping test, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spokesperson Hemendra Singh said, “it is shameful for paramilitary and police forces that their personnel have been found positive for consuming prohibited substances during games.