On 3 April 2018, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Federation Court heard a complaint made by the CGF Medical Commission against Dr Amol Patil, Team Doctor of the Indian Boxing Team. The Commission alleged a breach of the CGF No Needle Policy applicable to the Games.

As part of the investigation, the Doctor in question confirmed that he had administered a vitamin B complex, by injection, to an athlete that was feeling unwell. The Indian Team comprises 327 persons in total with only one doctor (apart from the doctor assigned to Boxing) and one Physiotherapist. These are the first Games for both the Indian Chief Medical Officer and the Doctor in question. Upon questioning, the Doctor conceded that he was aware of the No Needle Policy and subsequently detailed all use of needles for the period March 19 to date and co-operated in disclosing all medication in his possession.

The Federation Court found that there was a breach of Paragraphs I and II of the No Needle Policy in that the Doctor left needles in the room while he went to the Polyclinic to obtain sharp bins for the disposal of the needles. Under the No Needle Policy, needles are required to be stored in a central secured location, access to which is restricted to authorized medical personnel of the CGA delegation. The needles in question were not disposed of until he had made two trips to the Polyclinic.

The Court did not find that there was a breach of Paragraph III of the No Needle Policy which requires that whenever an Athlete receives an injection, an Injection Declaration Form should be forwarded to the Commission no later than noon the day following such injection. While the doctor did not file an Injection Declaration Form as required by the No Needle Policy, following the investigation into the discovery of the needles, and after due enquiry, he complied with the direction of the Commission and emailed information which, in the Court’s view, is substantially similar to the information required on the Injection Declaration Form. In addition, the email was sent before noon on the day following the use of the needles.

In the circumstances, the Federation Court’s decision is that CGF should issue a strong written reprimand to the Doctor for the breaches referred to above with a recommendation that he immediately familiarize himself with CGF Policies, in particular the Medical Policies and Standards applicable during Games time so as to avoid a recurrence of any breaches. A copy of the letter of reprimand should be served on the Chef de Mission of the Indian Team who should be advised to ensure that no further infractions of CGF Policies occur by any member of the Indian Team.

For information: The CGF’s Federation Court for Gold Coast 2018 comprises regional representatives of the Commonwealth Games Federation and is chaired by Richard Powers (Canada, Americas) with members David Harry (Guernsey, Europe) and Patrick Fepuleai (Samoa, Oceania). For information, a copy of the CGF No Needle Policy, which is publicly available on the CGF website, can be found here.

• This media release was published by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) via email on 3 April 2018.