10th January 2019
AFI “No Needle Policy”
Dear Athletes, National Coaches, Support Staff, Eminent sports personalities and other stakeholders.
Draft of AFI “No Needle Policy” is enclosed below on this web page of AFI website www.indianathletics.in
You are requested to go through the contents of the same and send your valuable suggestions/feedback/comments to indianathletics@gmail.com, if any by 25th January 2019.
The final AFI “No Needle Policy” will be published after receiving yoursuggestions/feedback/comments on 30th January 2019.
DRAFT “AFI NO NEEDLE POLICY”
A) Needles must not be used except by:
i) Medically qualified practitioners for the clinically justified treatment of injury, illness or other medical conditions (for which a valid TUE-Therapeutic Use Exemptions, may be required).
OR
ii) Those requiring an auto injection therapy for an established medical condition ONLY with a valid TUE, e.g., insulin dependent diabetes.
B) It is the responsibility of each athlete or support staff, in the National Camp or training outside on their own to ensure compliance with “AFI’s No Needle Policy”.
There is no justification for any athlete (except those with an established clinical condition requiring auto-injection and a valid TUE), a coach or any other non-medically qualified person to administer an injection. Injections are only permitted when there is a clinically justified reason for such an intervention as determined by the AFI Medical Commission. Any case so identified will justify prompt review of the rationale and justification of the treatment by a panel of physicians convened by the AFI Medical Commission.
C) In order to strictly enforce “AFI No Needle Policy”, a three-member committee was constituted on 11th May 2018, comprising of the following members:
1. Mr. Bahadur Singh, Chief Coach (Seniors) – Chairman
2. Mr. P. Radhakrishnan Nair, Deputy Chief Coach – Member
3. Mr Sanjay Garnaik, Chief Coach (Juniors) – Member
In order to implement AFI’s No Needle Policy, this committee is empowered to conduct search of the rooms of the athletes and support staff (except medically qualified practitioners).
D) The following decision was taken unanimously in the Annual General Body Meeting of AFI held on October 20-21, 2018:
1) In case, any used/unused syringe/needle/injection vial is found in the room or baggage of the ATHLETE in the National Camp/In-Competition or at other non-competition venues, the following sanctions will be imposed;
a) For 1st Violation: 3 months In-eligibility from participation in any Domestic/International Competition in Athletics along with removal from the National Camp.
b) For 2nd Violation: 1 year In-eligibility from participation in any Domestic/International Competition in Athletics along with removal from the National Camp.
c) For Subsequent Violation: 2 year In-eligibility from participation in any Domestic/International Competition. Athletics.In case of In-Competition violation of No Needle Policy, the athlete also stands disqualified from that competition).
2) In case any used/unused syringe/needle/injection vial is found in the room or baggage of the SUPPORT STAFF (except medically qualified practitioners) in the National Camp, the sanctions;
a) For 1st Violation: Removal from the National Camp for 1 year.
b) For 2nd or Subsequent Violation: Removal from the National Camp for life.
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