Security stepped up at Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI – The security clampdown at the Commonwealth Games went into overdrive Wednesday, a day away from the closing ceremonies and as organizers revealed a third positive doping test in as many days.

Reports emerged of a potential terror threat overnight but despite pre-games warnings of security issues, the Games which began on Oct. 3 have been so far free of any major problems.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell said he was unaware of any "new, credible, specific terror threat" in the leadup to Thursday night’s closing ceremonies and the men’s and women’s marathon along city streets.

In Canadian action Wednesday, Edmonton cyclist Tara Whitten braved sizzling heat to win the individual time trial. She had already won three bronze at the Games.

And diver Jennifer Abel of Laval, Que., added a silver in the three-metre springboard to the gold she won Tuesday.

London’s Daily Mail reported that Indian intelligence had warned of a militant terrorist plot to attack Delhi on Thursday. It cited unconfirmed new intelligence indicating that the Pakistan-based Lashkar e Taiba group, which carried out the commando-style attacks in Mumbai in 2008, was targeting attacks in the Indian capital on the day of the closing ceremonies.

Last week, the Indian military and police seized 10 improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, hidden in apple wooden boxes in Jammu city, an army officer told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. Jammu, 580 kilometres north of Delhi, is the winter capital of India’s Jammu-Kashmir state

The officer said the destination for the explosives was not immediately known.

The Daily Excelsior, a local English-language newspaper, reported Oct. 9 that "the possibility that the explosives were to be taken to New Delhi in a bus by one of the militants, who is at large, couldn’t be ruled out."

The explosives were seized from four people, including a police official, who have been arrested, said a police officer also on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, Fennell said Rani Yadav, who finished sixth in the 20-kilometre road walk on Saturday, had tested positive to the banned steroid nandralone.

Two Nigerian runners were earlier found to be positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine. Osayomi Oludamola was stripped of her gold medal in the women’s 100-meter race. Hurdler Samuel Okon also tested positive.

After television footage of last weekend’s cycling road race showed competitors speeding along virtually empty streets due to heavy security, Fennell said Wednesday that officials were trying to balance the need for extra vigilance with their wish to allow spectators close to the athletes for Thursday’s marathon.

But Fennell, who said organizers would not let up in their desire to keep the athletes and officials safe, spent most of his time at a news conference Wednesday talking about doping.

"I think that everyone would concede that to have three doping cases of those 1,300 tests is not a bad record," Fennell said. "And two of those have been concluded for substances that are considered by many to be not in the serious area of doping activity, which is stimulants.

"It would be our desire that there would be no cases because I think all involved in sports would like to have a zero factor when it comes to doping matters. But we have to live with reality."

Organizing committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot said having an athlete from the host country test positive for doping was "unfortunate."

But he found a positive: "It sends a message that if people are going to use drugs, they will get caught," Bhanot said.

The penultimate day of competition Wednesday included competition for 29 gold medals, including 10 in boxing.

In one of the highest-profile events of the day, 16-year-old Tom Daley won the men’s 10-meter platform for England with 538 points, beating Australia’s Olympic champion Matt Mitcham by 29 points.

"Today has been a total whirlwind. I got six 10s this morning and came second, and in the final I got seven 10s and came first. I couldn’t be happier," said Mitcham, who won the 2009 world champion in Rome. "There was a lot of pressure on me leading up to these Games, but to come back from a serious (triceps) injury is really satisfying."

Mitcham said he was disappointed with his final dives.

"In Beijing I got 10s in my second last dive. But today, for the same dive, I’ve only got eights," he said. "And today my last dive just didn’t work at all."

Australia won the women’s field hockey gold medal, beating New Zealand 4-2 on penalty strokes after the teams were level at 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

Canada lost 3-0 to India to finish sixth.

Tour de France regular David Millar won the men’s 40-kilometre time trial, giving Scotland its first Commonwealth Games cycling medal.

At the range, English shooter Mick Gault missed his major target in New Delhi, failing in his attempt to win his 18th Commonwealth Games medal to match the career record held by Australian shooter Phillip Adams. Gault finished seventh in his last event, the 25-metre standard pistol won by Singapore’s Gai Bin.

Local organizers have started hitting targets, after a problem-plagued buildup to the Games.

Fennell said he was pleased with the way the Delhi Games had been conducted. Two weeks before the games began, and when news emerged of the filthy state of the unfinished athletes village, there was even talk of cancelling the event.

"I think that what has happened here demonstrates quite clearly that there is a very strong future for the games," Fennell said. "We had a lot of questions about cancellation, but the games have been celebrated in very fine style. Obviously we have to address some of the concerns and improve the product as we go along."

The next Commonwealth Games are scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to Aug. 3, 2014.

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