The Burden Of Proof

While Madaswamy and Sateesha have been the culprits at Manchester, N. Kunjarani Devi's suspension last year now could also prove costly for Indian weightlifting. After winning the 48 kg gold in the Asian Championships in Korea last July, Kunjarani tested positive for strychnine, a stimulant. She was officially suspended for six months from August 29, 2001, the last date set for an appeal to ask for a second test on her sample. After initial denials, Kunjarani chose not to ask for the testing of her second sample. (She made a comeback in the UK, winning three gold medals in the newly-introduced women's weightlifting discipline).

If the IWF takes the period from July 12 to 17, 2001—when the championships were on in Korea—as the period of offence, India would then escape by the skin of their teeth. But if it takes August 29 as the date of first offence, India could face a one-year suspension. That would then mean Indian lifters will not be allowed for the Busan Asian Games. The only other escape route for India could be if the international body decides to treat the men's and women's federations as separate.

In the recent past, three federations have faced such bans. Following the doping scandals at the Sydney Olympics, Romanian and Bulgarian weightlifting squads were suspended for one year. More recently, Nigeria, one of the powerhouses in Commonwealth weightlifting, is undergoing a suspension for four positive tests at the World Championships in Turkey last year. Their ban ends only in October, and ironically, it was their absence that helped India pick up some additional medals at Manchester.

Twelve years ago, at the Auckland Commonwealth Games, lifter Subrata Pal tested positive. In the late '90s, Sports Authority of India (SAI) labs found a lot of lifters testing positive. But since the SAI laboratories are not accredited by the IOC, their tests cannot be accepted internationally.

More than 20 Indian lifters have tested positive for stimulants and steroids in various national meets and trials. The SAI, IOA and the IWF have regularly carried out tests before sending teams abroad. Even then, some lifters have tested positive abroad, not only because of lack of knowledge on their part, but also of their coaches.