New Delhi, April 25 -- In a first-of-its-kind crackdown on WADA-prohibited performance-enhancing substances, a joint task force led by Central Food Safety Officers, FSSAI and police raided a shop in Najafgarh, Delhi. The taskforce acted following information provided by the National Anti Doping Agency that the shop was part of an illegal supply chain distributing performance-enhancing drugs. The crackdown comes just days after World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka's visit to India during which he highlighted the need to curb illegal trade of performance enhancing drugs in India. "NADA's Intelligence & Investigations (I&I) unit identified an individual, Mr. Gaurav Vats in connection with alleged violations of the anti-doping rules for selling of prohibited substances in sports," said an official aware of the development. "NADA procured substances and send it to the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) for analysis. Laboratory findings confirmed that the substances were WADA-prohibited, and found them to be contaminated with other prohibited substances, indicating serious concerns regarding quality, safety, and deliberate adulteration," the official told HT. Formal communication was issued to regulatory bodies for further action under applicable laws. "A joint action was undertaken to uncover the illegal performance-enhancing drugs being circulated in the market," the official said. The premises of Gaurav Vats Nutrition was raided. The shop was also working without mandatory licenses. Around 2,800 capsules/tablets and 11 injectable units of prohibited substances, including anabolic steroids lie Methenolone Enanthate, Trenbolone, and Stanozolol were recovered from the shop. The official added that more such raids based on NADA's intelligence and investigation are on the cards. "Intelligence-driven investigations and inter-agency collaboration will continue to play a critical role in identifying and dismantling networks involved in doping and illegal supply chains. NADA is committed to safeguarding the integrity of sport and protecting athletes from the risks associated with prohibited and contaminated substances," the official said. WADA president Banka during his visit held high level meetings with NADA DG Anant Kumar, CBI, and other stakeholders. "The biggest production of Performance Enhancing Drugs and steroids is in India. We need to work with the law enforcing agencies, destroy this market to protect the athletes."...