After Ramesh Malhotra's suspension on charges of sexual harassment, the Indian Weightlifting Federation on Sunday headed towards a bitter showdown among its top brass with Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari demanding the sacking of secretary Sahdev Yadav for ignoring complaints against the disgraced coach.
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Saturday suspended SAI coach Ramesh Malhotra after Sydney Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari alleged sexual harassment by him on junior lifters.
On Wednesday, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) wrote to the sports ministry to comply with the High Court order.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Thursday rubbished "reports in international media" that 25 lifters had tested positive during the Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Udaipur, saying actually five flunked dope tests there.
Facing a life ban after failing a second dope test, weightlifter Sanamacha Chanu on Thursday accused the Indian Weightlifting Federation of keeping her in the dark about the banned substance methylhexaneamine, which she said she cannot even spell properly.
The Sports Ministry on Tuesday directed the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) to immediately release Rs 1.75 crore interest-free loan to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) so that it can pay the doping fine of US$ 375,000 to the international parent body before the August 31 deadline.
Three more Indian weightlifters have tested positive for doping, taking the latest positive tests to five, and the national body is now facing another suspension. Male lifters Harbhajan Singh and Rajesh Kumar and female Bijaya Devi were caught in World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) tests at a training camp for the Commonwealth championships.
Cracking the whip on dope offenders, Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Saturday handed life bans on three lifters, including 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Vicky Bhatta (56 kg), for their second dope offences.
In a respite to cash-strapped Indian Weightlifting Federation, the international body has extended the deadline for payment of the last two installments of a doping fine amounting to a whopping $3,75,000.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), facing strong action from the international body for a spate of dope cases recently, is paying the price for its "lenient" attitude towards drug cheats, feels India's first Olympic medallist in the sport Karnam Malleswari.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation owes an explanation and an apology to the country for the dope scandals that may lead to the humiliation of a third international ban, an angry Sports Minister M S Gill said on Monday.
In a dramatic face-off, agitated weightlifter Monika Devi on Wednesday stormed into the Sports Authority of India headquarters in New Delhi and confronted its Executive Director (Teams) R K Naidu, demanding report of her dope test, which she flunked.
Indian weightlifters' participation in next year's Commonwealth Games is in jeopardy as the national federation is facing the prospect of a one-year ban after a third positive dope test.
Tainted lifters Shailaja Pujari and Vicky Batta failed dope tests again and face life bans, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) confirmed on Monday. IWF secretary B R Gulati said woman lifter Shailaja (75kg) and her male counterpart Vicky (56kg) tested positive for banned substances during random testing.
Four days after handing life bans to three lifters for their second dope offences, the Indian Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday said five lifters tested positive for banned drugs during the Senior National Championships in Udaipur in February. IWF secretary Sahadev Yadav said the Punjab unit is banned for two years, as two out of the five lifters who tested positive belong to the state.
The International Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday cleared the deck for Indian lifters' participation at the South Asian Games after the national body paid $50,000 as first installment of the $500,000 fine imposed on it by the IWF.
The negative publicity surrounding the series of dope flunks by lifters has forced the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to forfeit itself the right to host Asian Youth and Junior Championships in December, a top official of the federation said on Tuesday.
India's weightlifting federation has handed out life bans to two lifters after both were found guilty of second doping offences. Top male lifter Sateesha Rai, first caught and stripped of two gold medals and a bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and woman lifter Boradi Prameelavalli have been banned.
With firm backing from the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), dope-tainted lifter Monika Devi on Wednesday claimed innocence and alleged that she is being victimised by some members of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Monika, the lone weightlifter chosen to represent India in the Beijing Olympic Games, was prevented from boarding her flight to Beijing on Tuesday night for testing positive for a banned anabolic salt.
Weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi failed a dope test and pulled out of the Indian contingent for the Beijing Olympics.
Weightlifter Kavita Devi has been banned for two years after failing a drugs test, India's weightlifting chief said on Monday. Kavita, who competes in the women's 75kg, was hauled back from last month's Asian championships in Japan after the Indian weightlifting federation learned she had tested positive for a steroid during a World Anti-Doping Agency test.
In what could be one of the biggest doping scandals in recent years, as many as 21 weightlifters have been provisionally suspended by the Indian Weightlifting Federation after testing positive for banned substances.
The ban prevents India from taking part in the weightlifting competition at December's Asian Games.
In an unusual move, ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been nominated for the Arjuna award by the national federation though the former World champion is already a recipient of Khel Ratna, country's highest sporting honour. The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) has nominated Chanu along with Ragala Venkat Rahul and Punam Yadav.
Both tested positive for banned substances at the Commonwealth Games.
Tejinder Singh and Edwin Raju, found guilty of doping at the Commonwealth Games, face life bans, the Indian Weightlifting Federation said.
Commonwealth Games medal prospect B Premeelavalli cited family problems for her late withdrawal from the team.
Kunjarani Devi will lead a young Indian women's weightlifting squad in next month's Commonwealth Games to be held in Melbourne.
Indian weightlifter B Prameelavalli said she pulled out of the Commonwealth Games because of an injury and the positive dope test was a surprise for her.
Sateesha Rai, who was stripped of a medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games after testing positive, is in the team for the Melbourne Games.
Shailaja Pujari won a bronze medal in the snatch and silver in the clean and jerk at the Asian Weightlifting Championships.
IWF President H J Dora said any player, who tests positive for banned drugs even once in international events would be slapped a lifetime ban from the sport.
'If they called a press conference to announce the life bans on us they should announce the reprieve also before the press,' the dope tainted
On a plea from the IOA, the ban on the three who tested positive at the Athens Games was cut to two years.
India bagged four gold and six silver medals in ongoing Asian Youth weightlifting championships.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation is likely to face a ban after two of it's lifters tested positive at the Commonwealth Games.
IWF secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia said Sunaina, a contender to make the Indian team for Athens Olympics, would not resort to dope.
S.Sunaina pulled out of a pre-Olympic training camp after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone at the Asian championships last month.
India's top women weightlifters are likely to undergo a two-month training for the Athens Olympics in Belarus to enhance the country's medal prospects in the mega event.
Conspicuous by their absence in the men's team are T Muthu, Vicky Bhatta and Sendhil Kumar.
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