The Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games found itself enclosed in a potential doping scandal after Australian anti-doping officials recovered a used syringe from a bin outside the room of senior boxers at the Athletes Village in Gold Coast. On Saturday, acting on a tip-off from the housekeeping staff, officials from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) and local police raided the room shared by four boxers and seized their possessions. They also recovered the syringe, which had been stuffed inside a crushed plastic bottle and put in the bin.

Sources in Gold Coast said the boxers denied the allegations initially, but the team doctor eventually confessed to the use of the syringe. He, however, insisted there had been no wrongdoing. The organising committee of the Games has now launched an investigation, and carried out dope tests on all 12 members of the boxing team, including eight men and four women. The syringe, too, will be examined for its contents. If found guilty, the boxers could face severe sanctions, and may not be allowed to compete. The test results are expected before the opening ceremony, which will be held on April 4.

According to the ‘no-needle policy’ for the Gold Coast Games, athletes are not allowed to carry syringes for medical purposes inside the Games Village or in competition areas without prior permission. Even after obtaining permission, the athletes have been advised to attach an ‘Injection Declaration Form’, and the usage of the syringe must be monitored by the Medical Commission of the organizing committee.