An Indian athletics competition ended in disarray on Wednesday as athletes went to great lengths to avoid doping tests.
In the 100-meter final, only one sprinter competed, while in the junior steeplechase event, a girl continued running beyond the finishing line as she was chased by a national anti-doping officer.
Several winners also skipped the medal ceremony for fear of being asked to give samples.
Officials said that the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) arrived to conduct tests at the event on Tuesday. This resulted in the number of participants on the third and final day of the competition falling by half.
The visit came a day after a video shared on social media appeared to show a washroom in the capital's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium littered with syringes and packets of the performance-enhancing drug Erythropoietin (EPO).
"We had written to the NADA on the second day of the competition asking them to come for testing," Sandeep Mehta, secretary of the Delhi Athletics Association, told AFP on Wednesday.
A MUST WATCH VIDEO:
— masterofnone (@parthgoswami84) September 26, 2023
Finalists of 100mts Men were informed that Anti Doping officials would be collecting samples. Out of 8 finalists, only 1 showed up for the final. Cleaning sports is extremely important. Athletes should never resort to Doping. #cleansports #dopefreesports pic.twitter.com/gSqSaM27O2
"They have the full right to test those who disappeared. We will ban the athletes if they test positive and also recommend the national athletics body to do the same."
Indian sports has been rocked by several doping scandals in recent years.
Athletes have tested positive during the Olympics, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games.
This year, 45 athletes have been suspended for doping.
Lalit Kumar was the lone athlete in the 100-meter final. He won after the seven other sprinters backed out, reporting that they had muscle strains or cramps.
"I was really looking forward to running against the best athletes, but nobody turned up," Kumar told AFP. "Everyone was scared of getting tested. As an athlete, I feel very hurt and let down."
In the junior steeplechase event, a girl continued to run even after crossing the finishing line and a doping control officer had to chase her to get her sample.
The Under-16 boys hammer throw also had only one participant.
