New Delhi: The International Weightlifting
Federation today cleared the deck for Indian lifters'
participation in the January 29-February 8 South Asian Games
after the national body paid USD 50,000 as first installment
of the USD 500,000 fine imposed on it by IWF.
The IWF has imposed the fine on Indian Weightlifting
Federation after six of its lifters had flunked dope tests
conducted by WADA and NADA in September last year.
"When the fine was imposed on India the SAF Games was
knocking at the door, so the Indian federation did not get
much time and paid the first installment," Indian Olympic
Association secretary-general Randhir Singh told PTI.
"The international federation has sent letters to their
Indian counterpart, IOA, Asian Weightlifting Federation and
also the SAF Games asuthority informing the eligibility
criteria of the Indian lifters' in the Dhaka event," he added.
The IWF earlier cracked the whip on the offenders and
banned Shailaja Pujari for life, imposed a fine of USD 5,500
on Vicky Butta and Harbhajan Singh and USD 5,000 on four other
lifters -- Rajesh Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Sunita Rani
(Punjab), A Vijayadevi (Jharkhand) and Pujari.
"However, in any case the Indian federation has to pay
the whole amount of USD 500,00 before the Commonwealth Games
in Delhi in order to participate there. Now the Indian
federation and the international body will work out the
timeframe, number and amounts of installments to be paid,"
Randhir said.
Sahdev Yadav, Secretary General of the Indian
Weightlifting Federation said they will sit with the game's
world governing body once the SAF Games is over.
"We have received the letter from the international
federation. We paid the first installment to ensure our
lifters' participation in the SAF Games," Yadav said.
"After the SAF Games, we will talk to the international
body regarding the number of installments, amount and the
time-frame," he added.
A six-member Indian team will now leave for Dhaka on
January 29 to participate in the 11-day competition.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 21:50