IOA calls for medical assessment of athletes and team officials

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday wrote to all National Sports Federations (NSF) to ensure the medical fitness of all athletes and team officials, who are to take part in the forthcoming Jakarta Asian Games.

"NSF's have the responsibility to ensure that athletes and team officials participating in the 18th Asian Games 2018 are in optimal physical and psychological conditions to carry out their games time duties at the best," said the IOA in a statement.

"We request all participating NSF's to conduct necessary medical assessment and submit the report on or before 10th of August," the statement added.

Earlier, the IOA issued directions to all sports federation and athletes asking them to follow the 'no needle policy' ahead of the Asian Games.

In a letter to all the participating federations, IOA made it very clear that they should ensure that prescribed medicine carried by the teams does not contain any World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substance.

The directions further read that the players should keep the prescription of a licensed doctor with them.

During the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, a seasoned India boxer was found to have breached the no needle policy after a used syringe was recovered near the room of the boxer.

Under the no needle policy, needles are required to be stored in a central secure location, access to which is restricted to authorised medical personnel of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CFA) delegation.

The Asian Games are slated to take place from August 18 to September 2.