Pay 50000 dollar and take part in Asian Games, IWF tells India

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has revoked the one-year suspension imposed on India but has asked it to pay 50,000 dollars if its lifters want to take part in the upcoming Asian Games in Doha.

A written communication to this effect has been received by Indian Weightlifting Federation from the world's apex body that Indian lifters can participate in any international event after paying 50000 dollars.

''The IWF Executive Board on September 29 took the decision to modify their earlier suspension order. Now we are told to pay 50000 dollars and our lifters are cleared to take part in any international event after paying the amount.

''We received a written communication from the world body a couple of days back,'' Indian Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Balbir Singh Bhatia told UNI today.

Bhatia, however, said the Indian Federation has yet to decide on how to pay the ''hefty'' sum which comes around Rs 24 lakh.

''For a small Federation like the Indian Weightlifting Federation, it's a hefty sum and we have to take a decision on how we have to pay the amount,'' he added.

He refused to say whether the Federation would approach sports ministry or not.

''I can't say anything at this stage but no doubt the sum is very heavy and we will take a decision soon,'' he said.

The Indian Federation was suspended for 12 months till March next year after Edwin Raju and Tejinder Singh tested positive for a banned steroid at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March this year.

Shailaja Pujari and B Prameelavalli also returned positive in the pre-event doping tests conducted by WADA officials at the national camp in Patiala.

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