Manipur teams to protest Monika exclusion

Imphal, Aug 9 (UNI) The Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) has decided not to send any players from Manipur to participate in any sports even in the country following the controversial removal of Laishram Monika from the Indian Olympic squad.

Monika was the only person representing the nation in weightlifting and was stopped when she was about to board an aeroplane.

President of MOA, E Binoykumar said the Indian Weightlifting Association, had informed that all the tests conducted on Monika proved to be negative.

She allegedly proved positive in a dope test. Later it was confirmed that the result was not reliable as the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency was not followed.

The state has witnessed widespread agitation over her removal from the Olympic squad.

The United Committee Manipur (UCM ) and ACOAM-Lup had imposed a state-wide general strike yesterday to protest the exclusion. State youth affairs and sports minister N Biren and officials of the Manipur Weightlifting Association are in New Delhi to discuss the matter.

Chief Manipur O Ibobi Singh said if foul play was suspected than a test should be done again. Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament from Manipur, has also written to Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent charge) Dr MS Gill demanding a thorough probe and a white paper.

It is a humiliation to the sports fraternity, he said.

The Manipur Peoples Party, the Congress, BJP, RJD among others have also cried foul over the manner in which sportspersons were treated. Monika herself had said over 30 dope tests were done earlier and all turned out to be negative.

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