Bharti orders inquiry into C'wealth Games doping fiasco

Taking serious view of the two doping cases involving weightlifters at the recent Commonwealth Games, Sports Minister Uma Bharti ordered an inquiry into the episode, demanding the report should be submitted to her within a week.

Bharti said the two doping cases lowered the "national prestige" and stringent action will be taken on the two lifters - Krishnan Madasamy and Satheesha Rai - to ensure such malpractices are not repeated.

The two lifters, she said, will be given an opportunity to present their case before a panel, comprising the secretary general or director of the Indian Olympic Association, director general of the Sports Authority of India and joint secretary (sports) in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The inquiry panel will also include the executive director (teams) of the Sports Authority of India, a medical expert from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and two eminent sports persons.

The report will also recommend what action should be taken on the lifters, who were stripped of the medals they won.

While Madasamy was stripped of his three silver medals in the 62 kg category, the Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed on Thursday that Rai too was disqualified and stripped of his medals for failing the dope test.

Rai, who claimed two gold medals and a bronze in the 77- kg category, tested positive for 'strychnine', a prohibited substance under the International Olympic Committee's class of stimulants while Madasamy tested positive for the banned substance 'nandrolone'.

Following Rai's disqualification, India, with a haul of 30 medals, slipped behind Canada to fourth position on the medals table.