New Delhi:
The Weightlifting Federation of India has been handed out a huge fine of a half a million dollars or about Rs 2.2 crores by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
The announcement came on Friday but it was already expected given that India had managed to convince the world body for a fine rather than a ban of 1 year, which is what should have happened given that about eight Indian lifters tested positive this year.
Apparently the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee wanted to avoid a ban at all costs because it would have meant that Indian lifters would have missed out on the event to be held in Delhi later this year.
Earlier on Friday, Indian woman weightlifter Shailaja Pujari was banned for life and five others suspended for four years on doping charges.
Pujari, who won three gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, failed an out-of-competition test conducted by India's National Anti-Doping Agency last September.
She had earlier tested positive for a banned steroid and was dropped from the squad for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
"Five other weightlifters, including 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Vicky Batta, have been banned for four years and fined $5,000 each for failing dope tests," Indian weightlifting official Sahdev Yadav said.
The other four - Harbhajan Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Vijaya Devi and Sunita Kumari - will miss the Commonwealth Games later this year, which India will host in New Delhi.
The announcement came on Friday but it was already expected given that India had managed to convince the world body for a fine rather than a ban of 1 year, which is what should have happened given that about eight Indian lifters tested positive this year.
Apparently the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee wanted to avoid a ban at all costs because it would have meant that Indian lifters would have missed out on the event to be held in Delhi later this year.
Earlier on Friday, Indian woman weightlifter Shailaja Pujari was banned for life and five others suspended for four years on doping charges.
Pujari, who won three gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, failed an out-of-competition test conducted by India's National Anti-Doping Agency last September.
She had earlier tested positive for a banned steroid and was dropped from the squad for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
"Five other weightlifters, including 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Vicky Batta, have been banned for four years and fined $5,000 each for failing dope tests," Indian weightlifting official Sahdev Yadav said.
The other four - Harbhajan Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Vijaya Devi and Sunita Kumari - will miss the Commonwealth Games later this year, which India will host in New Delhi.
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