Controversy struck the ongoing fourth edition of the Kabaddi World Cup in India when England women's team officials demanded a gender test on three players from the Pakistan team on Wednesday. Pakistan women's team, who took part in the tournament for the first time, have been knocked out of the event by India.
England Kabaddi Federation alleged that Pakistan players have masculine physique and are playing the sport like male athletes. The English body also alleged that the entire issue was being swept under the carpet despite their raised grievances. The English federation voiced their complaints in a letter to Punjab's director of sports Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon.
"Prior to our match against Pakistan at Jalalabad on December 7, I submitted a letter raising serious doubts about three players who we suspect are of male gender. All the women teams are put up at the same hotel and we have had sufficient time to observe the behavior of these players," Kawal Das, England Kabaddi Federation general secretary, was quoted as saying in the Times of India.
Das says that a team of doctors were to look into the matter but the plan was cancelled after Pakistani officials made requests. England kabaddi coach Ashok Das, who is also the president of the England Kabaddi Federation, said they had made the complaint on December 7 and 8 however, no action was taken by the concerned authorities.
"How can they think of including kabaddi in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games if you ignore such a serious issue?," said one of the officials.
On the other hand, tournament direction Shiv Dev Singh admitted that complaints were made by the England team management but said the players under doubt may have male hormones being from an athletic background.
"There is no question of male or transgenders playing in the team. The players in question were professional throwers and might be having male hormones. This can be checked by dope tests," Dev Singh said.
Dev Singh said that only an expert can take a call on an issue of alleged doping as such issues do not fall under his domain.
India will take New Zealand in the final of the tournament in Jalandhar on Thursday after beating Pakistan 46-12 in the semis on Wednesday.
Kabaddi World Cup: England women's team demands gender test on Pakistan players | Other Sports - More | NDTVSports.com
England Kabaddi Federation alleged that Pakistan players have masculine physique and are playing the sport like male athletes. The English body also alleged that the entire issue was being swept under the carpet despite their raised grievances. The English federation voiced their complaints in a letter to Punjab's director of sports Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon.
"Prior to our match against Pakistan at Jalalabad on December 7, I submitted a letter raising serious doubts about three players who we suspect are of male gender. All the women teams are put up at the same hotel and we have had sufficient time to observe the behavior of these players," Kawal Das, England Kabaddi Federation general secretary, was quoted as saying in the Times of India.
Das says that a team of doctors were to look into the matter but the plan was cancelled after Pakistani officials made requests. England kabaddi coach Ashok Das, who is also the president of the England Kabaddi Federation, said they had made the complaint on December 7 and 8 however, no action was taken by the concerned authorities.
"How can they think of including kabaddi in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games if you ignore such a serious issue?," said one of the officials.
On the other hand, tournament direction Shiv Dev Singh admitted that complaints were made by the England team management but said the players under doubt may have male hormones being from an athletic background.
"There is no question of male or transgenders playing in the team. The players in question were professional throwers and might be having male hormones. This can be checked by dope tests," Dev Singh said.
Dev Singh said that only an expert can take a call on an issue of alleged doping as such issues do not fall under his domain.
India will take New Zealand in the final of the tournament in Jalandhar on Thursday after beating Pakistan 46-12 in the semis on Wednesday.
Kabaddi World Cup: England women's team demands gender test on Pakistan players | Other Sports - More | NDTVSports.com
