Gold Coast (Gurpuneet Singh Sidhu): Commonwealth Games Federation has banned two Indian athletes from participating in the Commonwealth Games 2018 on Friday.
Indian athletes Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi are being sent home from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after a needle was found in a cup in their bedroom at the Athletes’ Village, the Commonwealth Games Federation said. Race walker Thodi, Triple jumper Babu and three Indian team officials had appeared before a CGF hearing on Thursday, CGF President Louise Martin told reporters.
“The testimony of the athletes … are both unreliable and evasive,” Martin told reporters. “Rakesh Babu and Irfan Kolothum Thodi are in breach of the ‘no-needles’ policy.
“Babu and Thodi are with immediate effect not permitted to participate in the Games. Their accreditation was suspended and both athletes have been removed from the village.
