NEW DELHI:Given the stringent doping norms in sports, athletes take immense care in what they eat. With just 11 months left for Rio Olympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has come out with a list of 14 approved food supplements, which could make the difference between the podium finish and the also-ran.
India has fixed a target of bagging 10 medals in the Olympics, scheduled to begin in August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the 2012 Olympics, India’s 83-strong contingent won six medals, including two silvers. Till now, over 50 sportspersons have qualified for the Brazil Games.
While sportspersons have been taking supplements, the ministry has asked them to stick to the list announced last week, which can also save them from likely chances of taking banned substances unintentionally. The list for 14 supplements like multi-vitamins, whey and soya proteins, calcium, anti-oxidants, sports drinks, glucosamine, creatine monohydrate, hematinic and b-alanine also states their technical specifications and contents, which will help the technical committee comprising sports scientists and coaches to pick up branded products, officials said.
Though rather belatedly, the ministry has almost doubled the daily supplement allowances. Athletes competing in heavy and middle weight categories for events like boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and throw events will get Rs 700 per day. The daily allowance will be Rs 400 per day for lower weight categories and other endurance and team events like running, walking, badminton, diving, sprinters, jumpers, football, hockey, basketball, gymnastics. For skill-based sports like archery, fencing, golf and shooting, sportspersons will get Rs 300 per day supplement allowance.
“The national sports federations can also procure any particular brand preferred by individual athletes, but make sure that only those manufacturers whose products do not have banned substances,” ministry officials said. “For sportspersons attending national camps and making a request for a particular branded food, the coach or the nutritionist in-charge will have to prepare an indent within a week.”
After the sports federations procure them, these will be supplied to heads of the Sports Authority of India centres and camp in-charges. To ensure funds are not misused, these will be open to scrutiny by government audits.
