There are apprehensions that the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) may not field a team for the continental competition to be held in Japan in the last week of April, which is the last chance for the Indian team to achieve a Beijing Olympics berth. According to coach Maged Salama, the IWF doesn’t want to face any possible suspensions on account of doping. This may spoil its chances on home soil for this year’s Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.Salama blames it on doping, saying if the federation doesn’t clean up the system, it may face a ban in the coming months. “It can happen anytime,” said Salama, adding, “Things are very bad. It’s like a dormant volcano which can erupt at any time.”Contrary to Salama, national coach Hansa Sharma, who is in charge of the senior camp, said the recent spat between Salama and the federation has severely hit preparations, saying the controversy arising from differences in opinion between Salama and the federation has spoilt the atmosphere. “Salama had made some serious allegations, which is why the morale of the players is not high at the moment,” she told The Indian Express after the morning session today, and went on to add, “I hope the players are able to deliver the goods in Japan.”Salama said he is ready to leave the country. “I am waiting for the necessary formalities. I don’t want to work any more with the Indian federation. I am waiting for my air tickets from the government,” he said. Salama had joined the national camp in September 2007 to prepare the national squad for the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune. Salama substantiates his doping theory on the facts that the top lifers showed great promise by lifting heavy barbells in the recently-concluded national competition at Bhubaneswar, but woefully lacked the fitness. The performance suddenly came down by 50 per cent in the camp. What does this indicate, he asked?The Egyptian coach also alleged that urine samples at home were manipulated by the federation. But medical experts at the sports medicine centre within the NIS campus denied the allegation. “It’s all rubbish,” said Ashok Ahuja, in charge of the centre.Even Hansa vehemently denied the allegation, saying all lifters couldn’t be on dope. “It’s certainly not possible. There could be one odd case, but not all lifters are taking performance drugs,” she said. The Egyptian coach also questioned the federation’s wisdom to bank more on seasoned lifters rather than juniors. “The right age to perform is 17 to 25 years,” he said, categorically referring to seasoned lifters. “It’s sheer wastage of funds to promote lifters who don’t have much of a chance at the Olympics,” he said, giving examples of India’s top lifter Karnam Malleswari, who had touched the barbell and bowed out of the competition in Athens. “Top senior lifters might do the same in Beijing, if selected,” he said.Being a coach, said Salama, he would want to select the best talent and not let down the nation. But the federation doesn’t trust him, which is why he feels he has no business to stay and oversee the camp. “I am going. Let the federation face the music,” he said.
