Date:07/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/07/stories/2008080760402300.htm

Sport

Federation backs Monika, seeks fresh test

Sports Reporter

— Photo: AP

BLAME GAME: Monika Devi has asserted that she is innocent and accused some of manipulating the entire episode.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday backed lifter L. Monika Devi against whom a doping charge has been brought forward by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) just before her departure for Beijing to participate in the Olympic Games.

The Indian federation Secretary, Sq. Ldr. B.R. Gulati (retd) said that his federation was not prepared to accept the validity of the tests and reports that were forwarded by SAI since they were “irregular” and against the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) rules. He alleged ‘sabotage’ and claimed that Monika was not even allowed to seal the bottle (containing urine sample).

Monika’s charge

Monika, meanwhile, accused people associated with another lifter, Shailaja Pujari, who was also in contention for the lone Olympic slot, for manipulating the entire episode, leading to her trip to Beijing being stopped at the last moment.

She claimed that she had undergone at least 30 tests during the past three years and had never tested positive.

“The timing of the announcement exposes a very shoddy manner of dealing with an important subject. If any unacceptable finding was observed (even up to July 24), there was sufficient time for the lab to inform the federation so that there would have been an option of considering a stand-bye (lifter),” Gulati told The Hindu.

“In the absence of any plausible explanation about this delay we are constrained to conclude that the timing (of announcing the result) was deliberate,” he added. Gulati denied that there would be any appeal from the athlete for sample ‘B’ testing.

No purpose

“No useful purpose will be served in appealing for the ‘B’ sample test since no appropriate procedure was followed in the collection of the sample. Instead, we have requested for a fresh dope test.”

“Send me to Beijing; test me, if I come positive not just life ban me, shoot me,” said Monika who, late in the afternoon, confronted officials of SAI and demanded an explanation.

Under International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rules, Monika, if she has to compete, should report in Beijing on the morning of August 7 to be tested by WADA/IWF.

The 69-kg competition is on August 13.