Sports Ministry increases diet and supplements allowance of athletes

The Sports Ministry today decided to hike the diet and supplement allowances of athletes at both the senior and junior level.The senior athletes have been granted Rs 650 per day as diet allowance, a significant hike from the Rs 450 per day they were earlier entitled to.The diet allowance for the junior and sub-junior sportspersons has been enhanced to Rs 450 per day.[caption id="attachment_2321680" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational Image. Reuters[/caption]The Ministry has also increased the allowance for nutritional supplements.The limit has been set at upto Rs 700 per day for heavy and middleweight power events. Upto Rs 400 per day have been sanctioned for endurance, team, sprints and low weight power events, while Rs 300 per day will be given to those participating in skill events."The procurement of supplements is to be done by SAI as per the procedure laid down in GFR. It is further advised that food supplements to be given to the athletes shall be decided after medical and bio-chemical assessment of each player," the Ministry said in a statement."In the cases where the athletes prefer a certain brand of supplement and are reluctant to consume supplements of other brands, SAI may purchase such specific brand of supplements within the approved entitlement as stated above," it added.A list of supplements' brands will be prepared by SAI in consultation with National Sports Federations, athletes, coaches and nutritionists, which would be reviewed periodically once or twice a year.PTI