A few hours after Arjuna Awardee footballer Subrata Paul tested positive for a banned substance, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel on Tuesday said the ministry is looking to introduce strict laws to eradicate doping from the country.
"Basically, we are bringing a new law or stringent laws to eradicate doping. Secondly, we are educating the players about doping so that in future we will be able to control doping totally," Vijay told ANI.
Earlier, Subrata failed a dope test conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in Mumbai when the Indian men's football team was going to Cambodia for a friendly match in February.
The goalkeeper will now go for the confirmatory 'B' sample test.
"The dope sample of one football player which was taken out of competition in Mumbai on March 18 has reported positive for doping. The prohibited substance Terbutaline has been detected in his urine," Goel said.
Goel further said that the sports ministry is not suspending Subrata and is waiting for his 'B' Sample.
More From This Section
"Presently, we have not suspended him, we are waiting for the B sample of the player. All India Football Federation has been informed about the same," he said.
Earlier, Subrata had expressed shock over the news, saying that there is no point in cheating the country.
"I am shocked to hear this news. I have not done anything wrong. I am trying to get in touch with federation and also NADA. There is no official message given to me on dope test. I have played for the country and there is no point to cheat with football. As of now I'm not conveyed about dope test failure," Subrata said.
Paul, who made his debut in 2007, has made a total of 60 appearances for the national team so far.
Paul, nicknamed the ' Spiderman', has also won Nehru Cups (2007, 2009) and the Asian Football Confederation's ( AFC) Challenge Cup in 2008.