Life ban on Raju, Tajinder as IWF initiates steps to curb doping

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) today cracked the whip on dope offenders as it banned for life lifters Tajinder Singh and Edwin Raju, both of whom tested positive during the Melboune Commonwealth Games and barred Shailja Pujari and B Prameela Valli for two years.

The four instances of dope violations within a month had prompted the International Weightlifting Federation to ban the Indian body for second time in less then two years.

The Executive Committee of the IWF, which met here to take stock of the performance of the weightlifters in the Commonwealth Games, also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Raju and Tajinder as per the federation's anti-doping rules.

''Since both the lifters, Tajinder Singh and Edwin Raju tested positive in the Commonwealth Games, the Executive Committee has decided to ban them for life from taking part in any weightlifting activity and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each,'' IWF general secreatry Balbir Singh Bhatia said in a statement today.

A ban of two years was imposed on Pujari and Prameela Valli, both of whom were tested positive in out-of-competition WADA test in India, he said.

''The decision will come into effect after getting the verdict of Court of Arbitration for Sports,'' he added.

Meanwhile, some members called for more drastic steps to check the menace of doping that kept recurring with uncanny frequency among the Indian lifters.

''Members were of the opinion that hereafter, the lifters, reponsible for positive tests should be banned for life as a deterrent measure,'' he said and added that the suggestion would be placed in the next General Body Meeting of the federation.

The IWF approved another suggestion that called for contractual agreement with the lifters with the provision of recovering money from the out-of-competition offenders.

Meanwhile, the federation appreciated the performance of the lifters who secured three golds, five silvers and one bronze in Melbourne. The record breaking performance of Kunjarani Devi, Simple Bhumral and Geeta Rani were particulary praised by the committee.

UNI DH SHR VC1916