By Abhishek Roy. Delhi, India, 05:39 PM IST

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has verbally asked the grapplers attending the national camp to be ready for a random dope test ahead of the Commonwealth Championship next month so that any ignominy at the world stage could be avoided.

'We have verbally asked the wrestlers to be ready for a random dope test before the Commonwealth Championship. In the past wrestlers have been caught in dope tests and it has brought a lot of shame for the country,' WFI secretary general Kartar Singh told IANS.

'We are trying to be strict and we are trying to handle this issue with a strong hand. By this we also want to send a strong message to the wrestlers that they can't take any unethical method to succeed,' he said.

The move comes after a wrestler along with eight other athletes from different fields tested positive in a dope test conducted during the National Games in Guwahati in February this year.

Singh also said that the WFI has asked the players to be careful about their medication as well.

'We have asked the players to be very careful about the medicines they take and consult only certified doctors before taking them. At times the players' take some banned substance out of ignorance,' said Singh.

The men's camp for the Commonwealth Championship will start in Sarlu in Himachal Pradesh this week and the team will be announced May 31. The women's camp will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the city and the team will be declared June 1.

The Commonwealth Championship will be held in Ontario, Canada, June 15-17.

By Abhishek Roy (Staff Writer, © IANS)