Sporting spirit dampened by dope charges

A few used syringes were found in the gents toilet and authorities were left red faced as it could not ensure the services of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) that conducts tests for performance enhancing substances on athletes.

Leaving aside the shameful incident, there were worthy performances from a few exceptional athletes.

A shadow incident of alleged doping amidst a few notable performances rocked day two of the 57th state schools athletics championship at the Maharaja's College ground here on Sunday .

A few used syringes were found in the gents toilet and authorities were left red faced as it could not ensure the services of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) that conducts tests for performance enhancing substances on athletes.

But leaving aside the shameful incident, the veracity of which cannot be confirmed without valid tests, there were performances worth a pat on the back coming from a few exceptional athletes.

P U Chithra, a girl who seems to have made breaking records a routine, was at it again by clinching the senior girls 5000 m. For the student of Mundur HS, Palakkad, it was a second gold in the meet.

Chithra, who had taken the 3000 m race by storm on the opening day , broke her senior M D Thara’s record of 17:28.99 by a full 4 seconds to win the 5000 m race.

Meanwhile, a little girl from Mannarkkad in the Palakkad district, with a bob cut sneaked into the record books. Shani Shaji of Kalladi HSS Kumaramputhur eclipsed Sinju Prakash’s 2011 mark of 3.20 m in the senior girls pole vault by 1 cm.

The two meet records had come in the pre-noon session and though no further marks were erased off the book the spectators had plenty of excitement left to see. Three other athletes completed their double in the day.

Rakhil A. G. of Palakkad, the 100 and 200 m winner in subjunior category from last year had graduated to the junior sec tion this year.

The Palakkad boy had clearly come prepared as he spread his wings to breast the finishing line in 100 m making it a double, having won the long jump the previous evening.

Jisna Mathew of Kozhikode and Nikhil Neethin of Palakkad also felt the double delight. Jisna, who won the 400 m on day one, clinched the 100m and Nikhil added the shot put title to his discus throw triumph.

At the end of the day, defending champions Palakkad had protected their castle with a terrific gold hunt. Palakkad has amassed 18 gold to take its tally to 118 points while host district Ernakulam gave an improved performance to close in on 99 points.