India saved from being disgraced: Deputy Chef de Mission

Beijing, Aug 6 (UNI) India were saved from disgrace in the nick of time with weightlifter Monika Devi being tested positive before she could leave Delhi for the Olympic Games here.

The controversial lifter tested positive for a banned steroid in a pre-Games test, officials confirmed here.

Monika was selected amid controversy after the original choice, Shailaja Pujari, was dropped following a cash-for-selection scandal.

India has faced such humiliating situation in Athens Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games but the Indian sports officials heaved a sigh of relief that Weightlifter was caught back home and not here.

Talking to UNI here, Indian deputy chef-de-mission Baljeet Singh Sethi said, ''yes I confirm that Monika will not be taking part in the Games because she failed a dope test back home.'' ''We are actually relieved that it happened before she reached here because it would have shamed the country if she had failed a test at the Olympics,'' he added.

''I can't understand why athletes think they can get away with it because strict measures are in place to find drug cheats,'' Sethi wondered.

''We are very strict on doping. We have no tolerance policy on this issue. It won't be tolerated,'' he said.

Sethi also demanded that the athlete and the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) should be punished.

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