Federation fined but lifters pick up tab

Eight lifters were missing when a team of international dope-testers arrived at the Bangalore camp on July 20 for a random test. That immediately attracted the mandatory $5,000 fine levied on the WFI.

The WFI then asked seven lifters — Kunjurani Devi, Tikana Gopal, Monika Devi, Renu Bala, K. Kalyani, Vicky Batta and Gurminder Singh — to pay the fine. The eighth, Satheesha Rai, was let off after convincing the federation that there was a genuine reason for his absence.

The money, say the lifters, has been handed over the federation, which has in turn deposited it with the world body. The norm is that the federation concerned pays the fine, not the sportsmen involved. Asked for his views, Weightlifting Federation of India president HJ Dora said: ‘‘The lifters were asked to pay the money as they were defaulters.’’

The WFI then announced that the defaulters were barred from participating in the trials held for the two forthcoming international competitions — the upcoming Asian Weightlifting Meet in Dubai and the Commonwealth meet in Melbourne next month.

That, says Dora, is because the WFI ‘‘wanted to be teach the lifters a lesson’’.

However, sources in the sport say there’s another reason for the ban: Had the lifters participated abroad, they would have tested positive. And that would have drawn a ban on the federation itself.