IWF suspends Indian federation on doping charges

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) The inevitable finally happened as the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) suspended its Indian affiliate following a string of doping violations by its lifters.

''Regrettably, four adverse analytical findings were reported on the occasion of doping controls carried out on the Indian national team members this year,'' the IWF said on its official Web site.

''The Indian Weightlifting Federation has been suspended, the duration of which will be decided by the IWF Executive Board at the end of May.'' However the Indian body is no alien to such humiliations. In 2004 as well, it was banned for one year after two women lifters failed dope tests at the Athens Olympics.

The latest decision, meanwhile, has come close on the heels of two male lifters, Edwin Raju and Tajinder Singh, being tested positive at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Just before the Games, ace lifter Shailaja Pujari was dropped from the squad following tests conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

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