Leipus feels extremely 'let down'

While the Indian cricket team is trying to shrug off allegations of drug use by some of its members and stay focused on the tri-series final against the West Indies on Saturday, physio Andrew Leipus has come out strongly in defence of his side.

Leipus termed the allegations as "laughable" and said he feels extremely let down by the story.

A news magazine last week quoted former India cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, alleging that certain players took performance-enhancing drugs. Gaekwad has subsequently denied the comments attributed to him.

"Personally, it puts me in bad light. All the hard work that I have done to get the players fitter and better has been washed away with this allegation," he said.

Leipus categorically stated he has "never injected a player except when it is for acupuncture" and denied ever giving steroids to any Indian player.

On the charge that he had imported some "stuff" from Australia for the players, the physio retorted, "It is myoplex, a nutritional powder, and it is secured from South Africa and not Australia. Also, it is not a steroid.

"Steroids help people in the gym enormously. If you are in to heavy weight training, steroids will help you. But our guys, when in the gym, do not train so hard. Their training is not really intensive.

"Whoever has done the story has little or no knowledge of the difference between diet supplements and steroids," he said.

Also read:
'The Indian team doesn't take steroids'

Mail Cricket Editor