New Delhi: The Indian Weightlifting Federation, IWF suspended 21 weightlifters for testing positive for banned substances in different domestic meets and out-of-competition tests.
The weightlifters from Indian Weightlifting Federation totally counting to 21 are removed from the team for doping scandal. They are tested positive for various things that are out of competition. Suneeta Rani who is a Commonwealth Games gold, Melbourne medalist in 2006 is also one among them. They said that this one of the issue they found recently.
IWF vice-president, Sahdev Yadav said, “This is one of the biggest catches in recent times”. He also said that the weightlifter were using different banned substances and caught during the process. This is true but not declared as a crime as far as “B” sample tests results are known to them.
This is for the first time that offenders are facing the prospect of ban in 4 years. These all things came into notice from the World Anti-Doping Agency rules. And these were caught at the National Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, Yamunanagar held in the month of January being from different championships.
IWF secretary general Sahdev Yadav also said, “Yes, 21 lifters have tested positive and have been provisionally suspended, pending the result of their ‘B’ sample tests. Their ‘B’ sample tests are awaited”. It is reported that the National Anti-Doping Agency, previously it was two years but now increased to 4 and is effective from 1st January, 2015.
As per the reports, IWF thought of banning Delhi, Punjab and Haryana for a year in the case of returning highest number of dope cases. With this decision, the lifters cannot participate in any of the competition till one year. As per the rules, for two or more doping violations in a year, the IWF or NADA can suspend the weightlifters for two years.