‘Doping in chess? Rubbish!’

MUMBAI: “Doping and chess? Rubbish!” is how former world number 3 Nigel Short reacts when asked his take on doping test for chess players at the Asian Games in Doha, beginning on Friday.

The Englishman says he has no idea how drugs could be used to enhance chess performance.

“I don’t know which drug could help a chess player in improving his game. As far as I know, it takes years to develop one’s knowledge, and if there was something like enhancing your brain with drugs, there would not be schools or colleges.

“In the last 100 years or so, have we heard of anyone cheating in this game? No,” he says, while adding that it (testing chess players) was just a waste of time and money.

Dronavalli Harika too has no clue. “I don’t think there exists any drug which can help a chess player enhance his or her performance,” she says.

Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte too feels it is just a waste of time. “Drugs in chess? You must be kidding,” reacts Kunte, who finished fourth in the Commonwealth Chess Championship. “Precious time will be wasted in the process. But  having said that, one has to abide by the rules laid down by the Asian Games organisers.”

However, Ravindra M Dongre, deputy president of the Commonwealth Chess Association, feels one has to follow the rules as chess has been introduced in the Asian Games for the first time. “I do agree with the view that there is no drug which can enhance the winning capability of a chess player, but we still have to follow the rules,” he says.

Chess is making its debut at the Asian Games in Doha. Triathlon too has been introduced for the first time in the Asian Games.