Indian lifters banned for 1 yr, Olympic participation in jeopardy

New Delhi, July 21 (UNI) Indian lifters have been thrown out of the Asian Games and their Beijing Olympics prospects also hang in balance with the International Weightlifting Federation slapping a one-year ban and a 50,000 dollar fine after four of them flunked dope test before and during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year.

The ban continues till March 2007 and if the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) fails to pay the fine, it would be stretched by another year, which would put a big question mark on the lifters' participation in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 because India would miss the qualifiers.

The International Weightlifting Federation banned and fined IWF after B Prameelavalli and Shailaja Pujari were caught positive by a WADA team in NIS Patiala, while Tejinder Singh and Edwin Raju flunked the test in Melbourne.

Talking to UNI here today, IWF President HJ Dora revealed about the second ban on IWF in two year.

The federation was banned earlier after women lifters Pratima Kumari and Sanamacha Chanu failed the dope test during 2004 Athens Olympics.

''We have been banned for one year and fined 50,000 dollar. In fact the initial fine was one lakh dollar but we pleaded to lessen it and they reduced it to half,'' Mr Dora said.

''However, the ban excludes domestic tournaments, which would go on as scheduled,'' he added.

The hefty fine also jeopardises the Indian lifters' participation in the Beijing Olympics and Mr Dora said IWF had not decided yet about paying the fine.

''We have not decided yet. I would have to discuss the matter with my colleagues in the federation and also with the Indian Olympics Association before we arrive at any decision,'' he said.

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