Federation faces ban after third failed test

Priyadarshini was tested in Pune on August 7 and 8 during trials and was found positive. The National Anti-Doping Agency report says she was using a masking agent to save herself from getting caught for taking banned substances, said Gulati.

Although Gulati refused to comment on the possibility of a ban,sources in the IWF said the penalty seems unavoidable. Priyadarshini has been caught for the first time and she might face a two-year ban for it, added the source.

According to the rules of the international association,a national federation can be banned for a year if three of its lifters test positive for a banned substance. The rules are clear,the national federation can be banned for a year if there are three positive tests in a year. IWF can escape the ban if they can pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh, the source said.

Earlier,Shailja had tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid in a NADA test while Vicky had been caught by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

2010 CWG impact

If the IWF is banned,Indian lifters would not be able to participate in the October 3 to 14 Games in 2010. The federation would also have to shell out 5,000 for every failed dope test.

The IWF has been banned twice previously,the last time being in 2006 when Shailja,B Pramilavalli,Edwin Raju and Tejinder Singh tested positive. The ban was lifted after six months after the IWF gave a 50,000 fine.

Meanwhile,sources said Shailja has not yet sought a test of her B sample. If she doesnt seek one in the next couple of days,it would be taken as an admission of guilt,and she would then be banned immediately.