New Delhi:
Indian weightlifting risks another international ban after it came to light that as many as six lifters have failed out-of-competition dope tests last month.
Male lifters Harbhajan Singh and Rajesh Kumar (both 94 kg) and female Vijayalaxmi Devi (69 kg) and Shailaja Pujari (75 kg) failed World Anti-Doping Agency tests conducted in Pune during selection trial for Commonwealth Championships to be held in Penang (Malaysia) from October 18-23.
The latest development took the positive dope results to seven -- five under WADA, two under National Anti-Doping Agency.
Vicky Batta (men's 56kg), who won a silver in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, was the other lifter who tested positive in the WADA tests last month.
Shailaja, who won three gold medals in the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 in 75 kg, also tested positive in the tests conducted in August by NADA.
Junior woman lifter from Maharashtra, Priyadarshini, was the other who failed the NADA tests. .
A top official confirmed that the IWF has received intimation from International Weightlifting Federation about five lifters testing positive in the WADA tests in September.
"We have got intimation from WADA and IWF that five lifters flunked dope tests conducted by WADA in September in Pune," he told PTI.
"WADA testers came unannounced during the trials of Commonwealth Championships. We now face the prospect of at least one year ban though the decision depends on the IWF Executive Board. We also have to pay USD 50,000 as fine," he added.
Under International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Policy, India face upto two year suspension besides a fine of USD 50,000.
The national body had earlier been banned twice -- first in 2004 and then in 2006, as three or more lifters had tested positive in a calendar year.
India also face the prospect on not being able to field any weightlifter in the Commonwealth Games here from October 3-14 next year.
The latest developments will seriously impact on the performance of the lifters who will take part in the Commonwealth Championships which begins on Sunday.
Shailaja was in the list of those selected for the Championships but will now be replaced by a reserve lifter named after the Pune selection trial.