PUNE: Now, Monika Devi will not go to the Olympics. And for probably no apparent fault of hers. Despite her being absolved of the dope charge, the weightlifter’s chances of taking part in Olympics were dashed on Sunday with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rejecting her entry in the competition.
Indian Olympic Association’s request to allow Monika to participate was turned down by the IWF, IOA President Suresh Kalmadi said in a statement. It was the latest in a bizarre twist of events that has tarnished the image of the sports in India.
Monika was pulled out of Beijing after Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials claimed that she tested positive for an unnamed steroid during an out-of-competition test conducted by the state-run Sports Authority of India at the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi.
On Sunday, Devi told DNA that she is pleased that the cloud of doping does not hang over her career anymore. “I do feel sorry as I could not make it to the Games, but at the same time I am happy that I have been cleared,” said Monika Devi while talking to DNA from Manipur.
“It is not the end of the road for me, but I do feel sorry, as I have been penalised because of somebody else’s mistake,” Devi added. IWF secretary BR Gulati said that RK Naidu, the executive director of teams (SAI) and Satish Rana, the project officer of weightlifting were trying to tarnish the image of the sport in India.
According to Gulati the excess anabolic salt detected in Monica’s sample was not external but generated internally itself. The secretary further went on to blame the officials at the SAI.
They are not well equipped to conduct the test, and moreover the SAI lab is not recognised by WADA. In the report it was stated that Monica Devi (69 kg), who hails from Manipur, tested positive for anabolic salt in a test conducted on June 29.
