New Delhi: Sports Minister M S Gill on Monday
asked Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi to
clear the doping mess involving the weightlifters.
"Gill called Kalmadi this morning and discussed the
doping issue. The Minister told Kalmadi to clear the mess
Indian weightlifting finds itself in," sports ministry sources
told reporters.
Earlier this morning, Gill lashed out at the Indian
Weightlifting Federation, saying IWF owed an explanation and
an apology to the country for the dope scandals that may
invite a third international ban.
In a strongly worded speech he delivered at the Kendriya
Vidyalaya Sangathan Sports Meet here, Gill said IWF officials
need to explain how six lifters returned positive for banned
substances in WADA tests.
"Recently, a number of weightlifters tested positive for
banned substances. That has brought shame to the country and
IWF is facing international punishment. The senior IWF
officials owe an explanation to the country and express regret
for the dope offence by the lifters," Gill said.
"They (the weightlifting officials) should take moral
responsibility and do whatever to eliminate doping from
weightlifting," he added.
Six lifters returned positive for banned substances in
the out-of-competition tests conducted by WADA in September in
Pune and India is almost certain to be banned in the executive
committee meeting of the International Weightlifting
Federation in Korea on Wednesday.
Under international rules, a national body may be handed
a maximum of four-year ban with fines if three or more lifters
return positive for banned substances in a calendar year.
If a ban of more than a year is imposed, India will have
to face the ignominy of being barred from fielding its lifters
in the October 3-14, 2010 Commonwealth Games here.
On the possibility of Indian lifters missing the
Commonwealth Games, Gill said the country would have to suffer
for the wrongs done by some lifters.
"What can we do? If there is to be a ban so be it. The
only thing is because of the lifters taking drugs, the country
will have to suffer," he said.
Gill said dope cheats would be dealt with sternly and his
ministry would take tough action.
"The world bodies have taken strong resolve to eliminate
this menace and give stern punishment to drug offenders. We
fully stand by this. I want medals from our athletes in
Olympics and world events. But I want medals won with honour.
'Mujhe benami ka medal nahin chahiye' (I don't want medal won
by disgrace)," Gill said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 16, 2009, 23:29