Panel to probe Jaisha’s allegation of official apathy at Rio Olympics

Jaisha, who finished 89th in the marathon event, had fainted after crossing the finish line. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), however, said the athlete refused any such arrangement when approached a day before the event. “I could have died there,” said a distraught OP Jaisha as she recalled the women’s marathon event at Rio Olympics during which she claimed she was not provided any water and energy drinks by the officials despite designated stations were given for India. Jaisha had collapsed at the finish line after completing the marathon and had to be rushed to a hospital. 

“We are supposed to be given drinks by our technical officials, it’s the rule. We cannot take water from any other team. I saw the Indian board there but there was nothing. I had a lot of problem, I fainted after the race. I was administered glucose, I thought I would die,” she recalled. The runner claimed that she got no response from officials when she asked why water was not provided to her at the stalls. “I asked officials why there was no water for us but I got no response. I don’t know what they were doing. There were lot of people in the Indian athletics contingent, anybody could have done this job,” Jaisha said. 

“The minister of state, youth affairs and sports Shri Vijay Goel has constituted a two-member committee consisting of Shri Onkar Kedia, joint secretary (sports) and Shri Vivek Narayan, director (sports) to enquire into the allegations of OP Jaisha,” a press release said. Jaisha, after returning from Brazil, claimed that officials from all other countries provided refreshments to their runners at designated points set up every 2.5 km. The committee will submit its report in seven days.