Topic: News: Indian Lifters Test Positive Again and Again

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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India`s request for extra Olympic quota for lifters rejected

New Delhi, June 19: India`s request for an additional quota place for women lifters in the Beijing Olympics has been rejected by the world governing body of the game.

India got a lone berth for Beijing after Monika Devi fetched a silver and two bronze medals in 69 kg category in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May. Subsequently, the Indian Weightlifting Federation sent a request to the International Weightlifting Federation, which has refused it in its congress on May 31.

"International Weightlifting Federation has refused our request (for additional quota). So we will have only one quota in Beijing," IWF chief Harbhajan Singh told reporters today.

IWF secretary BR Gulati said the international body said the `wild card` for lifters was meant to be granted to unrepresented countries to broad-base the representation in the Olympic Games.

"The world body said since India had got one berth, it cannot get another one," he said.

Meanwhile, Gulati also did not see any doping shadow behind Commonwealth Games gold medalist Geeta Rani`s last minute pulled out of the June 29 Olympics selection trial due to family reasons.

"She has pulled our solely due to family reasons. She had written to the federation that she is pulling put of the trials due to personal reasons," Gulati told reporters from Pune.

"She had been training at the ASI here and in fact had done the floor test, but had to rush back home due to some family problems," he said.

Geeta, Shailaja Pujari, Chhaya Devi and Monika Devi were to compete at the Army Sports Institute in Pune for India`s lone quota place.

The Delhi lifter`s pulling out has raised suspicions of dope offense as it came just a month after another woman lifter Kavita Devi tested positive for banned substance just before the Asian Championship in Japan leading to two-year ban of the lifter.

Gulati also said that Shailaja, who was handed a two-year ban for dope offense prior to the Melbourne Games, has been cleared to take part in any competition.

"Shailaja has served out her ban in January this year and there is no bar on her from taking part in any competition."

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Bribery allegation rocks weightlifting federation

New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) A fresh controversy today rocked the Indian Weightlifting Federation with its secretary being accused of receiving bribe to select dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics.
The IWF secretary B R Gulati has, however, dismissed the allegation as "rubbish and baseless" and said he had never done such a thing right through his career as a sports adminstrator.

A top IWF official, speaking on condition of anonimity, alleged that Gulati has received Rs 5 lakh to select Pujari ahead of Monika Devi, who had actually booked the lone Olympic berth for India.

"The allegations are all rubbish and baseless. I totally deny these allegations. I want to reconfirm my integrity," Gulati told PTI.

"In my couple of decades' association with sports administration, I have never done such kind of things," he said.

Monika, who fetched a silver and two bronze in 69 kg in Asian Championship in Japan in April-May to fetch the lone berth for India, and Shailaja were shortlisted for the final selection after a trial at Army Sports Institute in Pune yesterday.

As per the rule, though the berth is allotted to a country, the national federations usually prefer the quota winner to contest in the Olympics unless that player is unfit or unavailable for the event.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Indian weightlifting stunned by bribery allegations

New Delhi, Jul 1 (UNI) In a startling revelation, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was today jolted by yet another controversy when its secretary was accused of accepting bribe to draft dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics.

However, the IWF secretary B R Gulati has rubbished the accusations terming them as ''baseless'' and said during his entire career as a sports administrator, he had never been involved in any such shameful acts.

''All the allegations on me are baseless and I totally deny them. I want to reconfirm my integrity,'' Gulati said adding, ''In my couple of decades' as a sports administrator, I have never done such kind of things.'' Meanwhile, a top IWF official, who did not wish to be named, revealed that Gulati did receive Rs 5 lakh to select Pujari ahead of Monika Devi, who had already booked the only Olympic berth for India.

Weightlifter Monika, who won a silver and two bronze in 69 kg in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May to make it to the Olympic games for India, along with Shailaja was shortlisted for the final selection after a trial at Army Sports Institute in Pune yesterday.

But according to the rule, the national federations usually prefer the quota winner to contest in the Olympics unless that player not available for the event.

The IWF, however, decided to hold the trials to see the best athletes for the Beijing Games and shortlisted Monika and Shailaja.

The final selection is due for July 15 and only one of them will represent the country in the Olympics while the other would be named as a reserve.

Gulati claimed that it was a team effort and Monika's effort would not have bore fruit if the team had not performed as a unit.

''It was team effort and Monika alone didn't fetch us the Olympic berth. The lone berth was according to the points secured by the team. In the Asian Championship we were placed fifth in the points table.

''Though, Monika's one silver and two bronze did contribute to India's finish at the fifth position but other lifters need to be credited for the effort,'' Gulati said.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Lifters who perform best in qualifiers should go: Monika
By Joe Williams and Ashish Phadnis

PUNE: The controversy surrounding the selection of Shailaja Pujari over Monika Devi took a different twist with the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary BR Gulati saying that he is surprised over the abnormal improvement by Shailaja Pujari in the last few months.

“Shailaja’s performance is abnormally high in the last few months. Either she is not in a proper shape or there could be some external agency,” Gulati told DNA at the Army Sports Institute here, where these two lifters are undergoing selection trials, a day after he was alleged of taking money from Pujari and selecting her ahead of Monika Devi. “Skin me if I am wrong,” he insisted about the allegations. “I will file a deformation case against the agency which has spread this baseless accusation against me.”

The IWF secretary went on to add, it is a matter of further investigation and the federation have sent the blood samples of both these lifters for dope testing, and the result will be hear later this month.”

Clearing the air over the trials, Gulati went on to add that the trials were the norms of the Federation and we are working accordingly.

Shailaja Pujari (75 kg) was quick to say that it was due to her ban which was lifted on February this year the work out could be the reason for the outburst in her performance

“This is news to me she said regarding the allegations. It is baseless I don’t think anyone from my family can afford that money, added the Andhra lifter who takes part in the 75 kg category.

The Central Reserve Police Force employee Monika Devi was astonished about the trials. “As per my knowledge the lifter who performs best in the qualifying tournament, automatically gets berth for the Olympics. I don’t understand why the federation has to have these selection trials in the first place,” said Monika Devi who takes part in the 69 kg section.

She justified her claim by saying, that the silver medal at the Japan Asian Championship and bronze was enough for her to stake the claim for the Beijing berth. But she was happy as these trials have given her time for better outcome.

Gulati clarified the stand taken by the Federation about the trial, saying that it was the norms of the federation. “There are six norms for selection. Performance in selection trials, national and international performance in last three years, previous track record (doping), sinclair ranking, age and present world ranking. The player is selected on the basis of these parameters.”

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Indian weightlifting official accused of taking bribe

NEW DELHI: Indian weightlifting was embroiled in a new controversy yesterday after a top official was accused of taking bribe to send a dope-tainted lifter to the Beijing Olympics.

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary Baldev Raj Gulati was accused by a fellow official of taking 500,000 rupees ($12,500) from Shailaja Pujari to pick her ahead of rival Monika Devi.

Both Gulati and Pujari, who came out of a two-year doping ban in February, strongly refuted the allegations even as the federation ordered fresh Olympic trials in the sport on July 15.

"The charges are ridiculous," Gulati said. "Shailaja is from a poor family, she can't afford so much money. In fact, I am against sending Shailaja because she is unreliable and has a past dope record.

"I am not even a selector. She was picked by seven out of ten members of the selection committee after trials on account of her performance on the day which was outstanding.

Baffling

"In fact, we found it baffling that how she managed to improve her performance so drastically in a short span of time."

Devi was tipped for Beijing after she helped India secure the lone Olympic berth in the sport in either the men's or women's category by winning a silver and a bronze at the Asian weightlifting championship in Japan in April-May.

However, her below-par performance in the trials favoured Pujari, who had tested positive for a banned drug during an out-of-competition test by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) in 2006.

"The allegations of bribery are baseless," said Pujari, who competes in the 75kg category. "I have been struggling to raise money for my marriage for the last four years, how can I offer such a huge amount for my Olympic selection?"

Indian weightlifting has just emerged from a two-year ban after a series of drug-related scandals between 2002 and 2006.

Indian women lifter Karnam Malleswari won a bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Ministry to investigate in Weightlifting scandal

New Delhi, July 5:  The Sports Ministry has decided to inquire into the alleged bribe scandal in the Indian Weightlifting Federation over selection of dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics, a move which the IWF secretary has described as a blatant infringement on the autonomy of a sports body.

Taking a serious view of the bribe allegations, the Ministry has also directed the IWF that Monika Devi should be selected for the Olympics instead of Shailaja, who is accused of paying Rs 5 lakhs to secretary Baldev Raj Gulati to represent India at the Games.

Gulati was alleged to have taken the bribe to select Shailaja ahead of Monika, who won the lone Olympic berth for India in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May.

Gulati, has, however, described the allegations as "rubbish and baseless" and said he has never done such a thing in his career as a sports administrator.

"Reports against your involvement for taking advance money for inclusion of a player in the Olympic squad and other serious manipulations (that) took place in the selection trails for giving undue advantage to a lifter needs to be looked into," a Sports Ministry letter to Gulati said.

The Ministry has directed the IWF to cancel the repeat trials scheduled for July 15 while also making it clear that none other than Monika would represent the country in the Olympics.

"Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is of the opinion that it will be highly objectionable if any other girl than Ms. Monica Devi represents India in the Beijing Olympics 2008. SAI and MYAS is of the view that Ms. Monica should represent India in the Olympics. As far as the repeat Selection Trials is concerned, SAI and MYA&S is not in favour and feels it is an unnecessary exercise," the ministry communication said.

Gulati has, however, vehemently opposed this move and said in his reply, "... to thrust your opinion on the Selection committee of an autonomous Federation will be objected and fought out as infringement on our autonomy. As the office bearer, I am bound to point out this and protest if the Selection committee feels otherwise (on the selection of Monika)."

The Ministry letter, signed by SAI Director (Teams) RK Naidu, said ShailAja violated International Weightlifting Federation rules by using four types of knee bandages at a time during the selection trials and her lift should not have been counted.

IWF Vice President (nominated) CVR Prasad had alleged that Shilaja was allowed to used knee bandages more than what the rules allowed and when he protested he was told to leave the trial room by Gulati on June 29.

"As per the reports received from the Govt. representatives about the Selection Trials held on 29th June, it is learnt that Ms. Shailja Pujari, used four types of knee bandages at a time and took advantage of reinforcement which is against the rule of International Weightlifting Federation and her lifts for both Snatch and Clean and Jerk had to be no lift. Considering her performance by the Selection Committee of IWF is not conducive," the Ministry letter said.

Gulati, on the other hand, said he was the one who denied Shailaja the lift where she did not complete lift in time after removing bandages, adding that a lifter could not be disqualified from the selection trials on account of the bandages but her lift in an attempt could be declared no lift.

"You may have overlooked the fact that I was only ex-officio member of this committee and could not have any influence on the committee present in full strength (with 3 Govt. observers and one official of Federation in attendance) beyond giving statistics which were all against Shailaja and pressed hard by me," he said in his reply.

Gulati interestingly revealed that he had urged to have a dope test done on Shailaja considering Shailaja's "unusual improvement" since she returned in February this year to compete after serving out a two-year ban for doping before the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Shailaja had participated in the Asian Championship in Kanazawa (Japan) in April-May and stood fifth in 75kg category and she had also reportedly done well in the selection trials on June 29 in Pune.

"I have also urged WADA test on their samples since Shailaja's unusual improvement is cause of concern and deeper investigation being out of normal projections in any weightlifter in such short period. This was hammered by me but we have to have some conclusive proof for eliminating some one who has participated," the IWF Secretary said.

Gulati termed the Ministry stipulation to "select a female coach who would escort a female lifter in the Olympics rather than a male coach" as "a dangerous trend to divide the Federation on gender lines and cannot be mandatory as it is against Federation constitution".

"We oppose this concept and will be willing to present our case to IOA/Govt. for legal remedies. I am echoing only Federation's principled objections to such inroads in their autonomy. This will be opposed," he said.

Gulati also opposed the Minstry's decision to immediately shift the Senior Women National Coaching Campers from Army Sports Institute (ASI) Pune to National Institute of Sports Patiala which he said "has now an imprint of mass dope testing scandals and positive tests and manipulations".

"Shifting of the camp cannot be a unilateral decision without Federation's consultations. We are already in dock with the Ministry for all ills of NIS Patiala and we will want any place other than Patiala which has now an imprint of mass dope testing scandals and positive tests and manipulations at least for weightlifters. We have already explained to Hon'ble Minister and will not accept Patiala," he said.

"Any unilateral decision on this will be recorded as SAI's sole responsibility of adverse consequences. Track record of coaching at Patiala overrules this option, in Federation's opinion," Gulati added.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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IWF divided over sacking coaches

New Delhi: The Indian weightlifting scenario turned murkier on Monday when a section of the officials in the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) accused the office bearers of trying to pass the buck on to the coaches for doping.

The accusation came a day after the IWF decided to dismiss the entire panel of coaches soon after the Beijing Olympics. The IWF secretary, B. R. Gulati, has already written a letter to Director General, Sports Authority of India (SAI), informing him of the decision. The four coaches who have been asked to leave after the Olympics are — PS Sandhu, Hansa Sharma, Tamil Selvan and Amarnath.

While Gulati said it was the first step towards cleaning the image of weightlifting in the country, a senior IWF official termed it as an attempt to put the blame on the coaches for all the drug problems in the sport.

“The IWF is certainly in a difficult situation now,” the official said. “The government has already asked the federation to clean the sport of doping as soon as possible. The decision to throw out the coaches is only an attempt to please the government.”

[Danny Nemani]

The more I read this, the more I laugh.  How many problems are the Indian Fed guys going to go through.  On a positive note, I hope they sort their stuff out before the 2010 Comm Games and produce a team of clean lifters.