Foreign media smells doping in Prameela Valli's withdrawal

Melbourne, Mar 14 (UNI) As if the news of sex assault by an Indian masseur in the Games village was not enough, the foreign media here is snoopy for a dope scandal involving an Indian woman weightlifter.

B Prameela Valli has dropped out from the Indian weightlifting team at the last minute and the foreign mediapersons seemed sure that she had tested positive in Delhi.

''Why are the Indians so much into drugs?'' is the question being asked. With the Games hardly providing any excitment for the international media, the journalists here are looking for juicy news and after the sex assault incident, they are smelling foul in Prameela Valli's last minute withdrawal.

Though the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) officials informed the lifter had withdrawn because of some family problems, the journalists here are far from being convinced.

Some of the media reports quoted their sources back in Delhi claiming Prameela Valli has been caught for doping.

The Andhra lifter was a medal contender in the 63-kg category.

If proved so, she would be the second Indian lifter to test positive this month after Sailaja Poojari, a triple gold medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

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