Topic: News: Indian Lifters Test Positive Again and Again

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Indian Weightlifter Anita Kumari Accuses Indian Weightlifting Federation of Foul Play

 NEW DELHI, April 30:  International weightlifter Anita Kumari is fighting a lone battle against her own federation, the Indian Weightlifting Federation.

The 28-year-old from Jharkhand, who tested positive for a banned substance during the Nationals in Vishakhapatnam in December last year, has accused a senior official of the IWF of foul-play, alleging that she was asked to cough up money to get her name cleared.

Anita had won three medals, including two gold, in her weight category in Visakhapatnam. She was stripped of her medals in January after failing the dope test, which was conducted in the Sports Authority of India (SAI) lab in Delhi. Anita claims that when she asked for her 'B' sample to be tested elsewhere she was denied permission.

"I am innocent, that's why I wanted the sample to be tested in a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited lab in Bangkok or Malaysia as I don't trust the SAI lab which is not accredited. I told IWF that I was ready to pay for my tests, but I was not given the permission," Anita told TOI .

She said that IWF denied her permission for such a test through a letter on February 16, but agreed for the same last week after "I sent them a legal notice".

"I was told that instead of spending money on my tests, I should give it to the federation and get my name cleared," she said.

Anita accused IWF secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia of "trying to sabotage" her career at a time when she was "thinking of the Beijing Olympics".

Bhatia rubbished all these allegations and said IWF never asked Anita to pay money for getting her name cleared. "What role can IWF play when doping tests are done by the SAI lab? It's for SAI to decide whether she can be allowed to get her sample tested elsewhere or in their lab. As far as the allegation about money is concerned, I can say that she's lying," Bhatia said.

When asked why IWF did not ban Anita immediately after she tested positive, Bhatia said: "She has been banned provisionally. But we gave her time till May 1 for the testing of her B sample. This delay happened because she did not get in touch with us despite our repeated attempts."

Banned lifters allowed to train

Meanwhile, in another development, two lifters who were banned for two years after getting caught for doping offences before the Commonwealth Games last year — Shailaja Pujari and B Premeelavalli — have been given the green signal to attend a coaching camp in Bangalore.

"I am concerned about preparing the team for the Commonwealth Games 2010. What's the harm in training people?" Bhatia reasoned about the inclusion of the two, both of whom are still serving a two-year ban.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Harbhajan Replaces Dora at IWF, Bhatia Re-Elected

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI): There is a change of guard at the helm of Indian Weightlifting Federation as former Inspector General of Uttar Pradesh Police, Harbhajan Singh, was unanimously elected president in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Harbhajan, a former national level weightlifter, is appointed for next four years after H J Dora opted out of the contention following a series of dope scandals, including the Athens Olympics fiasco, which brought shame to the nation.

However, 72-year-old General Secretary, Balbir Singh Bhatia, will continue at the post for second consecutive term.

Other office-bearers include, Secretary Sunil Eleengbam, Treasurer Sehdev Yadav, Joint Secretaries P Ratnakar, Narayan Sahu and H S Bansal besides eight vice-presidents.

Harbhajan, who is also the General Secretary, All India Rugby Federation, said he was prepared for the challenge.

"My focus will be to educate weightlifters and coaches about doping. I think an exemplary punishment can be the only deterrent," he told PTI.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Federation Takes Dope-Tainted Lifters Under Wings Again

New Delhi, June 08: Finally, there seems a light at the end of the tunnel for the dope-tainted duo of Shailaja Pujari and B Prameelavalli, currently serving two-year ban each, with the Indian weightlifting Federation deciding to groom them again for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In a bold move, which can also invite widespread criticism, IWF has already managed to convince Prameelavalli to attend the camp and Shailaja is also likely to follow suit.

"Delhi is hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games and we have to field the best team. Going by their records, both Prameelavalli and Shailaja are almost certain to win medals and that's why we decided to recall them to train," IWF general secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia told reporters.

"We are fully aware of the possible consequences, maybe we are inviting criticism with the move. But if we can't brave that and fail to see the larger picture, we have no business to be here in the federation.

"Both Shailaja and Prameela's bans expire in march next year and we wanted them to be back to the business. It's easy to dump them and wash your hands of the issue but we are convinced of their capabilities and would do everything to boost our medal tally in the 2010 Games," he asserted.

Bhatia also refused to call it softening the Federation's stance. "They have tested positive and so there can't be any leniency as long as the length of the ban is concerned. But if recalling them serves the country's purpose, I think nobody should have any problem with that," he said.

Both Prameelavalli and Shailaja tested positive during out-of-competition testing done by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) at Patiala in February last year.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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India yet to pay IWF fine

NEW DELHI: The Indian Weightlifting Federation is yet to pay up 50 per cent of the $50,000 fine imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) last year following positive dope tests returned by four of its lifters. The deadline for the payment of the fine passed on June 30.

The IWF had initially imposed a one-year suspension and fine but lifted the ban last October and asked the federation to pay only the fine. On a request the IWF also allowed the Indian federation to pay the fine in two equal instalments.

“We have not been able to raise the necessary funds (around Rs 11 lakhs) needed to pay the last instalment. We were hoping to get some funds locked up with the (Union Sports) ministry, but that has not happened,” said the Indian federation Secretary, Balbir Singh Bhatia, on Wednesday.

Mr. Bhatia said he had written to the IWF seeking an extension of the deadline.

The actual suspension period ended in March this year and though the IWF allowed an early re-entry for India after payment of $25,000, paving the way for its participation in the Asian championships in China last April, it insisted that the federation pay up the rest of the amount by June 30. — Special Correspondent

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Satheesha Rai could be first Indian banned for life
With B sample also testing positive the lifter has reached a blind alley
By Navneet Singh

New Delhi, July 10: Multiple gold-winner Satheesha Rai will go down in the annals of Indian sporting history as the first male weightlifter with two anti-doping violations. He will also be the first sportsperson in India to get a life ban officially imposed by the international body.

 India has banned athletes for life before (like lifters Edwin Raju and Tejinder Singh, first-time offenders both), but that was more of an internal disciplinary decision.

The lifter first tested positive at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games (wh-ere he won gold) and lately failed a random test that was carried out at the Guwahati National Games.

Rai was among the nine sportspersons who had tested positive for banned substances during the Guwahati Games in February this year, but he had requested for a B sample test in his presence. His B sample test was no different from the A test.

He now faces a provisional suspension before the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ratifies the sanction of life ban. But before that he could be heard by an IWF panel. That is only a formality.

The route left for Rai is an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport. But that has rarely yielded results favouring the athlete.

Rai, along with Krishnan Madasamy was tested in Manchester and were stripped of their medals. Rai had won two golds and one bronze medal and Madasamy three silvers.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), after dilly-dallying for a while, finally announced the names of all the Guwahati Games cheats except Rai. Rai’s name was withheld because he had asked for the B test.

Though Manmohan Singh, head of IOA medical commission, refused to comment on the issue on Tuesday, IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh said it’s curtains for Rai. “His B sample test is also positive,” confirmed Randhir Singh.

Once the blue-eyed boy of the federation, Rai had represented the country in several international competitions, including the Asian Games and World Championships. A week ago, when The Indian Express contacted Rai, he had said he would speak on the issue of B sample later. But several attempts to reach him proved futile, as he was not answering the phone.

IWF secretary-general Balbir Bhatia later told this daily that he has no information on the issue.

In 2002, Rai had tested positive for a stimulant, and was slapped with a six-month ban. At that time too he had contested his positive test, denying he had taken any banned substance. He, however, blamed it on the food supplements.

Rai was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 1999 and was projected as the best Olympic hope then.

THE FEDERATIONS’ BLUE EYED BOY

• Satheesha Rai has always shown promise, which was why he always got the nod of the selectors. And since his appearance at the international level in 1993, the Commonwealth Games had been a good medal hunting ground for Rai.

Rai had also excelled in the 1998 Commonwealth Ga-mes in Malaysia, winning one gold and two silver in 77kg category. In 2002 he won two golds, but was caught.

Then, fingers were raised when he evaded international dope testing officials at the Bangalore camp. He was among the seven lifters slapped with fines of $ 5000 for the offence.

For his participation in Melbourne, the federation even pleaded his case with the Commonwealth Games Federation officials. As per CGF rules, any athlete who tested positive will automatically be banned from the next edition.

HUMILIATION

• Rai and Krishnan Madaswamy had tested positive at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Manchester episode was followed by more humiliation at the Athens Olympics.

Coaches like Pal Singh Sandhu along with his foreign assistant Leonid Taranenko of Belarus, were also banned for life for this.

So far at least three women lifters Pratima Kumari, Sanamacha Chanu and S. Sunaina have been slapped life bans by the country’s sports administrators. All have tested positive twice. The national federation was also banned from International competition for a period of one-year. In 2006, when four lifters tested positive in one calendar year, federation was again banned for taking part in International events.

RAI’S PERFORMANCE

• 1998 C’Wealth Games (Kuala Lumpur): 77kg — Snatch 147.5 kg (gold), Jerk 175kg (silver), Overall 322.5kg (silver).

• 2002 C’Wealth Games (Manchester): 77kg — Snatch 142.5 kg (bronze); Jerk 175kg (gold); Overall 317.5kg (gold).

• 2006 C’Wealth Games (Melbourne): 85kg - Snatch 146kg; Jerk 176kg; Overall 322kg (fourth).


 

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Satish disqualified, faces life ban

NEW DELHI: Weightlifter Satish Rai, who tested positive for a steroid at the National Games in Guwahati last February, has been found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation following the confirmation of his test result through ‘B’ sample analysis at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Bangkok.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) hearing panel, headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh, has ruled against Rai following the confirmatory test, which in any case was a formality, given the rarity of a ‘B’ sample for a steroid turning up negative.

Accordingly, the panel has recommended his disqualification from the competition in the games. Eight others were found ‘guilty’ last month.

Rai, who won the men’s 85kg title in Guwahati, with a record lift, wanted to be present at the ‘B’ sample testing. But despite seeking changes in dates initially, thus delaying the process of ‘results management’, he eventually did not attend the testing done in Bangkok in the last week of June.

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Second offence

Having tested positive for a stimulant at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, this is Rai’s second offence.

He thus faces a life ban if the Indian Weightlifting Federation also finds him guilty and imposes the most stringent sanction.

Rai can plead “no fault or negligence” or “no significant fault or negligence” on his part for the violation and seek a reduced sanction from the federation. However, even if he succeeds in getting a favourable verdict, his ban could extend to eight years.

For, the relevant rule says: “If the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility is a lifetime, the reduced period under this section may be no less than eight years.”

Had the stimulant Rai was found ‘positive’ for at Manchester (strychnine) been a “specified substance” under the current prohibited list, he would have been banned for a maximum of three years only.

Not specified substance

Strychnine, however, is not a “specified substance”. (Exception to the two-year suspension is provided for under the WADA rules if an athlete can prove that the use of a drug was unintentional and there was no attempt to enhance performance. The drug will, however, need to be classified under ‘specified substances’.)

The IOA had stated on June 15 that it was forwarding the “positive” cases for further sanctions by the federations, but enquiries revealed that federations were yet to get any communication in this regard. The IOA was in the process of sending letters on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, three of the woman lifters suspended in 2004 for doping offences are awaiting their re-instatement at the international level following the completion of their suspensions.

According to the Indian federation Secretary, Balbir Singh Bhatia, Sanamacha Chanu had completed the re-instatement testing.

Meanwhile, Pratima Kumari and Sunaina Anand were yet to complete the testing at an accredited laboratory.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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IWF not sure if Rai will get life ban

New Delhi, July 12: Indian Weightlifting Federation once again found itself in the doping net with weightlifter Satheesha Rai facing life ban for using a banned drug during the National Games and his fate would be decided in two months' time.

Rai became a second time dope offender at the 33rd National Games at Guwahati early this year after his 'B' sample test was confirmed to be positive for banned substances Stanzolol Met 1 and Stanzolol Met 3 by a WADA-accredited laboratory at Bangkok.

As per the rules, second time doping offense invites life ban for an athlete.

Rai had earlier failed a dope test at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 and was stripped of his two gold medals.

The 85kg category lifter, who won a gold medal in Guwahati with a record lift, faces a life ban after being found guilty by the Indian Olympic Association panel headed by the Anti-Doping Commission chairman Manmohan Singh.

IWF Secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia said a decision on Rai would be taken after consultation with the International Federation.

"Life ban is a debatable point. We will discuss the matter with the International Federation and will not do anything without seeking their advice. We do not want to take any action that may take us to court," Bhatia told reporters.

"We will also put the matter in front of our executive committee meeting, which would be held in a couple of months' time. Until then he would not be allowed to compete. Our president is not in India and should be back in about 15 days time. Only then can we call for the meeting," he added.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Satish has the right to a hearing
By K.P. Mohan

NEW DELHI: The Indian Weightlifting Federation, if it has to follow the anti-doping policy of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), will have to provide a “hearing” to Satish Rai instead of simply discussing his case at its Executive Committee meeting next month.

Rai, who won the 85kg title and turned in a “positive” at the National Games in Guwahati last February, is facing a life ban since this is his second violation. He had tested positive in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games also.

The Indian federation, unable to determine the appropriate sanction since the 2002 offence involved a stimulant that attracted only a six-month suspension then, has sought advice from the IWF.

However, what is of importance in Rai’s case is he has to be given a chance to place his arguments at a hearing to be arranged by the National Federation. The Indian federation had apparently taken the stand that the lifter had already been given a hearing by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) panel headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Says the relevant IWF rule for national-level testing (12.2.1): “When it appears, following the results management process described in Article 11, that these anti-doping rules have been violated in connection with testing other than in connection with the IWF testing or testing at an international event, the athlete or other person involved shall be brought before a disciplinary panel of the athlete or other person’s National Federation for a hearing to adjudicate whether a violation of these anti-doping rules occurred and if so what consequences should be imposed.” Even if one were to argue that the IWF rules do recognise decisions taken by other bodies which are signatories to the WADA Code, the IOA decision pertained only to the disqualification and subsequent annulment of the results but not suspension since that aspect was beyond its purview.

Inexplicable

Quite inexplicably, even the IOA panel did not go through the complete process of hearing in Rai’s case as the panel did not call him again after his ‘B’ sample tested positive. The argument was that he had already deposed before the panel prior to the ‘B’ test.

The Indian Weightlifting Federation Secretary, Balbir Singh Bhatia, said on Thursday that he would be studying the rules further to see if a hearing had to be arranged for Rai and if found necessary would be ready to meet that requirement.

The options before Rai would not be exhausted even after a hearing by the National federation since he can seek either elimination or reduction of the period of ineligibility under the exceptional circumstances rule (15.5) and still later file an appeal before an appeals panel to be set up by the Indian federation. (The final appeal will have to be filed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) instead of a national appellate body if Rai is deemed to be an “international level athlete”)

The Indian federation is being extra careful in the Rai case since the 2002 rules only imposed a two-year ban for a second offence involving a stimulant. There was no mention in the rules then of “multiple violations” involving different classes of substances.

The present rules are, however, clear. All prohibited substances other than those under “specified substances” attract two-year suspensions for a first offence and life-time ban for a second offence. A multiple violation involving a “specified substance” and any other substance gets a minimum two years and a maximum three-year suspension. Neither strychnine, the stimulant found in Rai’s urine sample in Manchester, nor stanozolol, the steroid detected in his Guwahati sample, is a “specified substance”.