Vinod Patra of Haryana lifts 150kg in the men’s 60kg category and clinches gold on the penultimate day of National Benchpress Championship at JRD Tata Sports Complex. Kajal Roose won the 56kg silver by pulling in 120kg. Delhi’s Sanjay Kumar bagged gold (100kg) in the men’s 52kg section, edging out Nilesh Hinge of Vidarbha (92.5kg) and Ashish Kumar of Chhattisgarh (85kg). Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, March 17: The effects of National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada) have started showing on the psyche of lifters assembled here for the ongoing National Benchpress Championship.

A five-member squad is keeping an eye on the proceedings at JRD Tata Sports Complex to prevent illegal consumption of banned substances by participants.

The scene at this year’s meet is in sharp contrast to the national sub-junior powerlifting meet in June 2005 when scores of syringes and vials were found at the venue.

Indian Powerlifting Federation (IPF) officials said that the squad had begun randomly searching rooms and collecting lifters’ urine samples.

“It’s a secret operation. The team is keeping a distance from us. The squad came here before the meet started on March 15,” said a Nada official.

Some lifters confirmed that their rooms in the eastern wing were searched last night. “They searched our bags and other belongings. They did not utter a word,” said a lifter.

Subrata Dutta, the IPF general secretary, said he was aware about Nada team’s arrival but had not met them.

“They don’t meet anyone. They do their job independently. Mixing with federation officials would send a wrong message. We only take body weights of participants,” he added.

Asked if the team had collected urine samples, Dutta said it was a routine affair. Urine samples collected by the Nada squad will be tested at the Sports Authority of India laboratory in Delhi.

He said that it was mandatory for sports federations to inform the agency about any championship and its venue.

“We will be shortlisting probables for the Asian and World Championships to be held later this year. Nada will once again collect urine samples of lifters in Delhi before the final squad is announced by us,” Dutta said.

A participant, who has donned India colours, said: “Nada’s entry is a positive sign that would save the country from facing embarrassment in international competitions.”