New Delhi:
The prospect of Indian lifters taking part in Commonwealth Games brightened on Tuesday with the Sports Ministry directing the CWG Organising Committee to immediately release Rs 1.75 crore loan to the national weightlifting body for paying the USD 3,75,000 fine to its parent international federation.
On a day IOA President Suresh Kalmadi ruled out giving money to pay the doping fine, Sports Ministry wrote a letter to CWG OC directing it to release an interest-free loan out of Rs 25 crore under Joint Marketing Agreement provided under clause 261 of the Host City Contract of Commonwealth Games.
"The Ministry directs the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games to release Rs 1.75 crore to Indian Weightlifting Federation directly as interest free loan with a moratorium of one year. The release shall be made against the budget provided under the Joint Marketing Agreement. The repayment of the loan to IOA may be separately determined between IWF and IOA in due course," the letter signed by joint secretary Injeti Srinivas said.
"Since the last date for submitting entries for participation in CWG is fast approaching, the loan may be disbursed immediately pending all formalities. Loan of Rs 1.75 crore being given to IWF is not to be utilised by it toward payment of fine USD 31,000 on individual weightlifters found guilty," said the letter addressed to CWG OC Chief Executive Officer Jarnail Singh.
If the IWF does not pay the doping fine of USD 3,75,000 and an additional USD 31,000 for individual fines and 'B' sample testing charges by August 31, Indian lifters will be barred from taking part in the Commonwealth Games.
IWF President Birendra Prasad Baishya thanked the government for its intervention, saying that he expects "the problem will be solved".
CWG OC Secretary General and spokesperson Lalit Bhanot said that Ministry's directive will be taken up for consideration.
"I can't say whether we will agree to what the Ministry says but we will definitely consider it," he said.
Earlier in the day, Kalmadi ruled out giving any monetary assistance to IWF because it related to doping but said he will facilitate in raising the money from "outside sources".
He also said that IOA would ask the International Weightlifting Federation to reduce the fine as it was imposing "a fantastic amount".
"It is a dope thing. And we can't give money for dope. There is International Olympic Council (which will disapprove it). We can't pay money for dope charges," Kalmadi, also CWG OC chairman, said.
"We are talking to IOC and International Weightlifting Federation. We are asking the international federation to reduce the fine because they are charging a fantastic amount as fine. Nobody pays such a huge money," Kalmadi said.
Out of the USD 5,00,000 fine imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation after six Indian lifters flunked dope tests conducted by WADA in September last year, IWF has already paid USD 1,25,000 from its own resources.
In the letter to the CWG OC, the Ministry expressed unhappiness that the IOA has not taken steps to "intercede" with International Weightlifting Federation to reduce the fine or reschedule the penalty payment so that Indian weightlifters can take part in Commonwealth Games.
"It is the primary responsibility of IOA to ensure Indian teams' participation in international events. The IOA as a premier body for sports has neither taken steps to intercede with International Weightlifting Federation nor responded to the Indian Weightlifting Federation's request for assistance in time," the letter said.
The Ministry said that it cannot accept a situation where Indian weightlifters would not take part in the Commonwealth Games which is to be held in the country.
"IWF has selected 15 athletes to participate in the Games and this issue (of non payment of fine) is resulting in general uncertainty amongst the players thus affecting their morale," it said.
"The Government of India cannot accept a situation where despite being a host country, the national teams do not participate in the Commonwealth Games. Non-participation of Indian weightlifting team is not only likely to result in India losing good number of medals, but also endanger the whole sport of weightlifting in the country," the letter said.
On a day IOA President Suresh Kalmadi ruled out giving money to pay the doping fine, Sports Ministry wrote a letter to CWG OC directing it to release an interest-free loan out of Rs 25 crore under Joint Marketing Agreement provided under clause 261 of the Host City Contract of Commonwealth Games.
"The Ministry directs the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games to release Rs 1.75 crore to Indian Weightlifting Federation directly as interest free loan with a moratorium of one year. The release shall be made against the budget provided under the Joint Marketing Agreement. The repayment of the loan to IOA may be separately determined between IWF and IOA in due course," the letter signed by joint secretary Injeti Srinivas said.
"Since the last date for submitting entries for participation in CWG is fast approaching, the loan may be disbursed immediately pending all formalities. Loan of Rs 1.75 crore being given to IWF is not to be utilised by it toward payment of fine USD 31,000 on individual weightlifters found guilty," said the letter addressed to CWG OC Chief Executive Officer Jarnail Singh.
If the IWF does not pay the doping fine of USD 3,75,000 and an additional USD 31,000 for individual fines and 'B' sample testing charges by August 31, Indian lifters will be barred from taking part in the Commonwealth Games.
IWF President Birendra Prasad Baishya thanked the government for its intervention, saying that he expects "the problem will be solved".
CWG OC Secretary General and spokesperson Lalit Bhanot said that Ministry's directive will be taken up for consideration.
"I can't say whether we will agree to what the Ministry says but we will definitely consider it," he said.
Earlier in the day, Kalmadi ruled out giving any monetary assistance to IWF because it related to doping but said he will facilitate in raising the money from "outside sources".
He also said that IOA would ask the International Weightlifting Federation to reduce the fine as it was imposing "a fantastic amount".
"It is a dope thing. And we can't give money for dope. There is International Olympic Council (which will disapprove it). We can't pay money for dope charges," Kalmadi, also CWG OC chairman, said.
"We are talking to IOC and International Weightlifting Federation. We are asking the international federation to reduce the fine because they are charging a fantastic amount as fine. Nobody pays such a huge money," Kalmadi said.
Out of the USD 5,00,000 fine imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation after six Indian lifters flunked dope tests conducted by WADA in September last year, IWF has already paid USD 1,25,000 from its own resources.
In the letter to the CWG OC, the Ministry expressed unhappiness that the IOA has not taken steps to "intercede" with International Weightlifting Federation to reduce the fine or reschedule the penalty payment so that Indian weightlifters can take part in Commonwealth Games.
"It is the primary responsibility of IOA to ensure Indian teams' participation in international events. The IOA as a premier body for sports has neither taken steps to intercede with International Weightlifting Federation nor responded to the Indian Weightlifting Federation's request for assistance in time," the letter said.
The Ministry said that it cannot accept a situation where Indian weightlifters would not take part in the Commonwealth Games which is to be held in the country.
"IWF has selected 15 athletes to participate in the Games and this issue (of non payment of fine) is resulting in general uncertainty amongst the players thus affecting their morale," it said.
"The Government of India cannot accept a situation where despite being a host country, the national teams do not participate in the Commonwealth Games. Non-participation of Indian weightlifting team is not only likely to result in India losing good number of medals, but also endanger the whole sport of weightlifting in the country," the letter said.
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