New Delhi: Under intense pressure from Union
Sports Minister MS Gill and the IOA following a series of dope
flunks by country's lifters, entire executive committee of the
Indian Weightlifting Federation resigned during its emergency
meeting here on Monday.
According to sources, the resignation came after Indian
Olympics Association President Suresh Kalmadi rang up the IWF
headquarters here when its executive committee were holding an
emergency meeting and told in clear terms that federation has
to clean up the dope mess.
The resignations come just two days before the
International Weightlifting Federation decide on India's fate
in its executive board meeting in Korea after six lifters
returned positive for banned substances in out-of-competition
tests.
"Kalmadi rang up the IWF President while the executive
committee meeting was on and asked what the federation will do
to clean up the doping mess and possible ban by international
body.”
"After that the whole executive committee of the IWF
resigned and they have also informed their decision to the
IOA," a highly placed source told reporters.
Earlier today, Gill lashed out at the IWF, saying they
owed an explanation and an apology to the country for the dope
scandals that may invite a third international ban and also
asked Kalmadi to clear the mess involving the lifters.
"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 had said.
"They (the weightlifting officials) should take moral
responsibility and do whatever to eliminate doping from
weightlifting," he added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 16, 2009, 23:44