NEW DELHI: Indians in Gold Coast are facing scrutiny over syringes in rooms.

Indian athletes have been punched firmly by the syringe controversy in Gold Coast (Australia) with the Commonwealth Games organizers targeting all arriving batches of Indians for dope testing.

India denied any wrongdoing after syringes found in the compound but still following the recovery of a used syringe outside the room of a seasoned boxer at the Athletes’ Village (KhelGaon) on Friday, all boxers were asked to provide their urine samples for testing.

 On Monday, it was the turn of the gymnastics contingent, while the weightlifters were tested late on Sunday as TOI reported.

In what is being seen as a fall-out of the fall foul of the No-Needle Policy of CWG, the Indian athletes have been taken on by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) to give their samples on their entrance at the Athletes’ Village – even before checking into their respective rooms. The message from the organizers to Australia’s anti-doping officials for Indian athletes is obvious – “spot them test them”. India is participating with a 225-member athletes’ contingent to Gold Coast.

While it’s usual for the host country’s anti-doping supervisory body to collect samples of all participating athletes to ensure that the Games remain spotless, the manner in which the organizers and ASADA officials are going about their business is a bit exceptional and unheard of.