India’s sacked athletics coach from Ukraine fears for his life

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Sacked athletics coach Yuri Ogorodnik on Wednesday expressed fear for his life in India and defended himself by claiming that he did not play any role in the doping scandal that resulted in six of his trainees testing positive for banned substances.

The Ukrainian, who was sacked by Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Tuesday for his alleged role in the doping fiasco, said he wants to leave the country soon and claimed that he has been set-up to tarnish his reputation.

"I want to go home. If I stay here I will die. I don't want to die in India. Want to die in my country. I have always faced many problems here. I have not been eating or sleeping well," said Ogorodnik while speaking to electronic media here.

"I cannot believe the girls tested positive for the same anabolic steroid. I have never given any anabolic steroid to any athlete. I am not to blame for it. The athletes have taken only food supplements and that could be contaminated.

"We have given many dope tests before. Before Commonwealth Games, during and after CWG before and after the Asian games. We never faced a problem earlier," he added.

Ogorodnik said he will not meet any of the SAI officials and would fly out to his country in two-three days.

"I am flying out directly. Not completing formalities. Not meeting anyone. I have a very bad experience in India."