Bharti orders probe into doping fiasco

Taking a serious view of the two doping cases involving weightlifters during the recent Commonwealth Games, Sports Minister Uma Bharti today ordered an inquiry into the doping scandal and said the report should be submitted to her within a week.

She said the two doping cases had lowered the ‘national prestige’ and stringent action will be taken on the two athletes – Krishnan Madasamy and Satheesha Rai – to ensure that such malpractices were not repeated in future. The two lifters will be given an opportunity to present their cases before a panel consisting of Secretary General or Director of Indian Olympic Association, Director General of Sports Authority of India and Joint Secretary (Sports) in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The inquiry panel will also include Executive Director (Teams) of Sports Authority of India, a medical expert from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and two eminent sportspersons.

The report will also recommend what action should be taken on the athletes so that such incidents do not occur in future.

While Madasamy had been stripped of his three silver medals in the 62-kg category during the Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed yesterday that Rai had been disqualified and stripped of his medals for failing the dope test.