New Delhi: Indian weightlifters' participation in next year's Commonwealth Games is in jeopardy as the national federation is facing the prospect of a
one-year ban after a third positive dope test.
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary B R
Gulati confirmed that after already-tainted Shailja Pujari
and Vicky Batta were caught for the second time, woman lifter
Priyadarshini too has flunked a dope test.
"Priyadarshini was tested in Pune on August 7 and 8
during trials and was found positive. The National Anti-Doping
Agency report says she was using a masking agent to save
herself from getting caught for taking banned substances,"
Gulati told agency.
Although Gulati refused to comment on the possibility of
a ban, sources in the IWF said the penalty seems unavoidable.
"Piyadarshini has been caught for the first time and she
might face a two-year ban for it," the source said.
According to the rules of International Weightlifting
Federation, a national federation can be banned for a year if
three of its lifters test positive for a banned substance.
"The rules are clear, the national federation can be
banned for a year if there are three positive dope tests in a
year. IWF can escape the ban if it can pay Rs one lakh fine,"
the source said.
Earlier, Shailja had tested poitive for a banned anabolic
steroid in a NADA test while Vicky had been caught by the
World Anti-Doping Agency.
If IWF is banned, the Indian lifters would not be able to
participate in the October 3 to 14 Games.
The Federation would also have to shell out USD 5,000 for
every failed dope test.
IWF has been banned twice previously, the last time being
in 2006 when Shailja, B Pramilavalli, Edwin Raju and Tejinder
Singh tested positive. The ban was lifted after six months
after the IWF gave a USD 50,000 fine.
Meanwhile, sources said Shailja has not yet sought a test
of her B sample. If she doesn't seeks one in the next couple
of days, it would be taken as admission of guilt and she would
be banned immediately.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 17:08