Former athlete Sunita Godara calls boxers' pregnancy tests ahead of tournaments 'common feature' in sport

Backing reports of Boxing India conducting pregnancy tests on eight women boxers going for the World Championships in Korea next week, former athlete Sunita Godara on Thursday said that it was a common feature.

You hv to be medically fit for tournament,such tests are common feature: Sunita Godara,frmr Athlete on reports of pregnancy test on athletes

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 6, 2014

"It's not that pregnant girls can't play any game but if they are going for any international tournament and if the sport is like that where they can get hit or kicked then they have to be very careful. So it's nothing very special or forced or anything," said Godara.

"Any medical test or any doping test the athlete has to undergo, this is the rule of sports which has to be followed by all sports people and those who don't they are supposed to be banned," Godara added.

Athletes are bound to undergo medical tests, if they deny they are under disciplinary action: Sunita Godara pic.twitter.com/DAB7aNhAjF

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 6, 2014

She further said that the test is also very important because if in a sport like boxing something happens to the girl during a boxing bout, the authorities will be blamed at a later date.

According to media reports, Boxing India has conducted pregnancy tests on eight women boxers, including unmarried and juniors, who are going for World Championships in Korea next week. 

However, the issue took a political twist as Congress spokesperson expressed displeasure.

It is unfortunate if there is such rule that unmarried athletes are forced to undergo pregnancy test:Shobha Oza, Cong pic.twitter.com/YCUy95S3wi

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 6, 2014