A report in the Times of India revealed housekeeping staff at the Village in the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow found syringes in the rooms of a Para-athlete and where Indian wrestlers were staying and in a lounge area used by athletes from the team.

Following the discoveries, Indian officials were brought before the Commonwealth Medical Commission and warned about the use of needles and their correct disposal.

Speaking to insidethegames, CGF chief executive Mike Hooper insisted there was no suggestion of any illegal substances or performance-enhancing drugs being taken by any Indian athlete.

"Yes there were needles found and we have spoken to the Indian [team and officials]," said Hooper.

"We put a Needles Policy in place for the first time ever at a Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it's consistent with a policy put in place by the International Olympic Committee for the Olympics in London in 2012.

"It's designed to encourage good medical practice and to take care of athletes and ensure they are protected from things like needle stick injuries and are disposed of properly.

"There is legitimate use and we have a Needles Policy and there were shaft disposal areas and facilities made available to teams as well [at Glasgow 2014].

"Clearly athletes have injections for legitimate reasons, be it for vitamins or whatever.

"We are not suggesting for a moment that there was any rule violation and this is certainly not the case with India.

"There were no adverse findings of any sort.

"The needles were discarded inappropriately and they [India] were called in and the matter was discussed with our Medical Commission to remind them of their obligations and the policy to make sure there was no repetition.

"There was nothing sinister in it."

The Needle Policy introduced at the Games enforced a "needle free" environment except for the "clinically justified treatment of injuries or illness" and for the treatment of "established medical conditions" such as diabetes.

Indian athletes were warned about the disposal of needles and syringes at the Glasgow 2014 Athletes' Village ©Getty Images




Raj Singh, Indian's Chef de Mission at Glasgow 2014, admitted they should have been more vigilant about allowing syringes to be transported to the Village, but insisted there was no wrongdoing taking place.

"The athletes used the syringes to administer multi-vitamin doses," Singh told the Times of India.

"There was no rule violation involved.

"I was present at the Medical Commission hearing and they too gave us a clean chit.

"They [the athletes] ought to have taken more responsibility.

"After the first incident, we conducted raids in some of the rooms.

"However, it is not humanly possible for a small team to keep an eye on the entire contingent."

A spokesperson for Glasgow 2014 told insidethegames: "Glasgow 2014 worked with the Commonwealth Games Federation in the lead-up to and throughout the Games to ensure the Athletes' Village was a safe and secure environment for all."

No Indian athletes tested positive for banned substances during the Games in Glasgow, which took place from July 23 to August 3.

India came fifth on the overall medals table, winning 15 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze medals.

But the incident will come as a further embarrassment to India after two of its officials were arrested for separate incidents by police in Scotland during the Games.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta was arrested on August 2 accused of driving without a licence and under the influence of alcohol, but was released without charge two days later due to a lack of evidence.

Wrestling referee Virender Malik was arrested on the same night as Mehta in an unrelated incident regarding sexual abuse allegations before also being released without charge.

The IOA has opened an investigation into both incidents.

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