New Delhi:
Under intense pressure from Union Sports Minister MS Gill and the IOA following a series of dope flunks by country's lifters, entire executive committee of the Indian Weightlifting Federation resigned during its emergency meeting on Monday.
According to sources, the resignation came after Indian Olympics Association President Suresh Kalmadi rang up the IWF headquarters when its executive committee were holding an emergency meeting and told in clear terms that federation has to clean up the dope mess.
The resignations come just two days before the International Weightlifting Federation decide on India's fate in its executive board meeting in Korea after six lifters returned positive for banned substances in out-of-competition tests.
"Kalmadi rang up the IWF President while the executive committee meeting was on and asked what the federation will do to clean up the doping mess and possible ban by international body.
"After that the whole executive committee of the IWF resigned and they have also informed their decision to the IOA," a highly placed source said.
Earlier today, Gill lashed out at the IWF, saying they owed an explanation and an apology to the country for the dope scandals that may invite a third international ban and also asked Kalmadi to clear the mess involving the lifters.
"Recently, a number of weightlifters tested positive for banned substances. That has brought shame to the country and IWF is facing international punishment. The senior IWF officials owe an explanation to the country and express regret for the dope offence by the lifters," Gill had said.
"They (the weightlifting officials) should take moral responsibility and do whatever to eliminate doping from weightlifting," he added.