India weightlifting reaches new depths of shame in 2009

New Delhi: Six dope cheats plunged Indian weightlifting into new depths of shame in 2009 which also saw the national federation executive committee resigning en masse owning “moral responsibility” for the fiasco which sullied the name of the country. If 2008 is remembered for the controversy encircling Monika Devi, who was being stopped hours before boarding a flight for Beijing Olympics for her positive result in a NADA test, 2009 saw six lifters being caught by WADA for doping, which sent India on the brink of third international ban after 2004 and 2006. Under the international federation rules if four or more lifters test positive in a calendar year, the country could be banned for a maximum of four years. And a ban of more than a year would result in India facing the ignominy of its lifters being bar But for Sports Minister M S Gill though, he had declared that the country “does not want medal of shame”. International Weightlifting Federation in its executive board meeting at Goyang City in Korea could not come to a clear decision on India’s case though it had stated that strong action will be taken after the analysis of ‘B’ samples are completed. India’s case has now become an open and shut case as only one out of six lifters who were caught for doping had asked for ‘B’ sample test before the deadline. But the Indian authorities are hoping that the international body would let the country off the hook with a hefty fine though it could set bad precedents in deciding cases against Iran, Greece, Russia whose lifters have also been caught for using banned substances this year. The hope stems from the fact that the Indian Olympic Association obtained the en masse resignation of the executive committee of the national body after a strong letter from the international federation which wanted a totally new body at the helm of the affairs. red from taking part in next year’s Commonwealth Games at home. The disgraced officials though are bracing up to return as members of the new executive committee despite IOA’s assertion to bar anybody from the previous executive body. The dope fiasco had other repercussions also with India deciding not to send their lifters for the World Championships in Korea though the country, in any case, would not have won any medal in view of the tough competition there. India also decided not to host the Asian Youth and Junior Championships scheduled to be held in Pune in December. The national weightlifting federation feared that the government would not be willing to extend the financial help to host the event and the small sponsorships that normally come would not be there because of the dope fiasco. Besides the six dope flunks in WADA tests, the year also saw several other lifters being caught for using banned substances in tests conducted by NADA which made weightlifting continue to be the filthiest sport in the country. Monika Devi also turned out to be a cheat as her ‘B’ sample, which was tested in the WADA-accredited laboratory in Tokyo under the recommendation of the T S Krishnamurthy Commission to probe into the doping episode, confirmed he dope flunk. The only silver lining in an unforgettable year was India’s creditable performance in Commonwealth Championships in Penang, Malaysia. The country’s lifters won 27 medals including 17 gold to finish on top of medals tally. The Indian lifters also won team championship trophies in senior men, senior women, junior men and junior women. They also won all the best lifter trophies in senior women, junior men and junior women sections. Another noteworthy performance came in the World Junior Championships in Romania where Sukhen Dey (56kg) became the first Indian male lifter to win a medal at a global level with a bronze. The Indians, however, came a cropper in the Asian Championships at Chiangmai in Thailand as they had to face tough competitions from China, Korea among others. Soniya Chanu missed the podium in 48kg by whisker, finishing fourth. Though there participation in the 2010 Commonwealth Games is hanging in balance, 55 lifters are undergoing training in Pune for next year’s extravaganza. Dope tainted Sanamacha Chanu, one of the two lifters who tested positive during the 2004 Athens Olympics; which led to India’s first international ban -- was the latest addition to the elite list. With all these going on, Hungarian coach Imre Zsuga, who was appointed as overall head of India’s preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, left the country abruptly. Zsuga, whose term was till the Commonwealth Games, ostensibly left his job due to differences with the national federation top brass but apparently he was not happy with the dope menace. Last year, Egyptian Magad Salama resigned as national coach citing doping among senior lifters and officials, besides coaches keeping a blind eye on it as the reason. The year will also bring curtains on the career of country’s top lifter Shailaja Pujari as she would be handed life ban after the latest doping fiasco. It is learnt that Pujari, among the six dope offenders, has not made any request for ‘B’ sample test. She first tested positive in an out-of-competition test before the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games which saw the country being banned for the second time. Bureau Report