Other regressive and certainly objectionable clauses are also worth-pondering. http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/in-official-code-of-conduct-for-para-athletes-let-us-search-your-belongings/99/ Indian athletes participating in the Asian Para Games starting this weekend in South Korea have said that they were made to sign a code of conduct agreement by their national association that includes several "unethical" clauses, one of which even allows officials to search their belongings at will.
All the 87 special athletes in the contingent have signed the document but not before many of them raised objections to these clauses, specifically those that obligates them to give blood samples for HIV testing; provide their complete immunisation history; and let officials search their possessions at the accommodation provided for the Games. The document states that a "breach in any term of this agreement" will mean losing accreditation for the Games, exclusion from competition and even financial penalties. The Para Games, for special athletes, are being held in Incheon from October 18-24, and follows the Asian Games that were held last month at the same venue. When contacted by The Indian Express, Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Rajesh Tomar confirmed that the athletes were asked to sign the agreement before they started leaving for Incheon in batches from Tuesday. Tomar said that it was done to ensure discipline and enforce anti-doping measures, and claimed that the agreement was endorsed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). However, an IPC official denied that the world body had ever backed any such agreement. Para athletes from the past and even present able-bodied Olympians have also pointed out that they had never been asked by any association to sign any such undertaking before. Defending the PCI's decision, Tomar said, "We had to recall an athlete from the Commonwealth Games after he tested positive; we were told that the syringes were found from the rooms of our athletes there." He added, "IPC wants us to do this. We have inserted a few clauses of our own to ensure that these athletes stay disciplined but I am only following orders from the IPC." But IPC's director of media and communications Craig Spence denied that the committee had issed any such "orders". "Having spoken to my relevant colleagues in anti-doping and medical, I can assure you that none of these guidelines have come from the IPC," Spence clarified through email. A National Anti-Doping Agency official, meanwhile, termed the PCI's anti-doping clause as a "crude way" of dealing with dope cheats and clarified that at least one of the clauses in the agreement -- letting officials search the athletes' personal possessions -- was outside the guidelines of even the WADA. According to a leading para athlete, who wished to remain anonymous because of a media gag that is part of the agreement, the PCI came up with this document to curb criticism. "We were given this document at the last moment and told specifically that only those who sign would go to Incheon. Everyone has signed. They (the officials) had been publicly criticised earlier for the selection and handling of athletes before the Games so this code of conduct ensures that we will stay silent. It's such a complex document that there can always be a case of someone breaking some rule," he said. The clauses in the agreement, not surprisingly, have irked even former Olympians such as ace shooter and London Games bronze medallist Gagan Narang. "I have never seen or heard of such a document. We were never made to sign any such document by either the National Rifle Association of India or the Indian Olympic Association," Narang told The Indian Express. Another Olympian shooter Ronjan Sodhi questioned the clause that asked the athletes to provide blood samples. "Where is the need for HIV testing? I have never been asked to do any such test," Sodhi said On 10/17/14, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: > Horrible, utterly horrible. > > > On 10/17/14, Sruti disAbility Rights Centre <sruti.d...@gmail.com> wrote: >> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Para-athletes-ordered-not-to-speak-to-the-media/articleshow/44845067.cms >> >> >> NEW DELHI: In a shocking case of insensitive and highhanded behaviour by >> sports administrators, the Indian athletes going for Para Asian Games in >> Incheon (for sportspersons with various disabilities) have been forced to >> sign a contract which bars them from going to the media with their >> complaints. This gag has been enforced to stop these disabled athletes >> from >> "gaining sympathy by trying to project themselves as victims" through >> "frivolous allegations". >> >> As per the contract, anyone who goes to the media will face a lifetime >> ban >> and those who do not sign will not be allowed to participate in the >> Games. >> >> In the section Media Requirements of the contract, a copy of which is >> with >> TOI, it is clearly stated that these athletes face a life ban for >> flouting >> the norms. "We were told we would get out air tickets only when after we >> signed these stifling contracts. Some of us protested but there was no >> option in the end," said one of the athletes participating in the games. >> >> The Paralympic Committee of India's (PCI) explanation for taking this >> Draconian step is amazing. "These athletes are indisciplined, so this >> contract was made to keep them under check," said Rajesh Tomar, the >> president of PCI. >> >> Tomar said that some athletes try to gain sympathy by showing themselves >> as >> victims in front of the media. "It is very important for sportspersons to >> be disciplined and this contract will be a psychological pressure. If >> they >> have a problem, they will first have to approach PCI and give the >> committee >> a month's time to probe. >> >> "This committee is doing so much for these disabled athletes - we >> organised >> a grand farewell dinner which was attended by ministers, they have >> granted >> good allowances during the games and they will also get their sports kits >> on time," said Tomar. >> >> The farewell dinner for all the 90 athletes going to Incheon was held on >> Monday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Some para sportswomen have >> written >> to the ministry that they weren't provided with cab facility after the >> dinner and they were out on the streets at 12:30 in the night. "The >> ceremony got over very late. There were just two taxis waiting outside >> one >> for all the men and women. I had to take an auto at 12:30am for Pahar >> ganj >> from JN Stadium. Some of us have written to the ministry and the >> committee >> but have got no reply," said an athlete. >> >> Reacting to this, Tomar said only two or three women were left and they >> have set up a committee to probe the matter. "Yes, this complaint has >> reached us and we are probing the matter. But these women reached home >> safely at the end of the day." >> >> PCI was in news last month as there were reports that the officials were >> taking their family members as para athletes' escorts. >> >> "Now, the names suggested by the athletes as escorts have been cleared >> for >> Incheon," said Tomar. >> >> Meanwhile, the para table tennis players have claimed they have been >> given >> no escorts. "No escorts are going with us. We have been approaching PCI >> regarding this matter for days but to no avail," said Suvarna Raj, a para >> table tennis player. >> >> Para Asian games will begin on October 18 and end on October 24. >> >> A delegation of 135 people is going from India. >> Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
