Olympian Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in dope row

The surfacing of the issue after a gap of nine years has surprised Rathore,who felt it was the handiwork of the National Rifle Association of India NRAI whose April 6 elections were declared 8220;null and void8221; by the Delhi High Court last month.

NRAI challenged the decision of the single judge who had allowed the plea of Rathore that the election was a 8220;sham and be quashed8221; as he was denied an opportunity to contest.

8220;The events of today are a clear attempt to defame me to divert attention from Hon HC decision of nullifying NRAI elections. To rake up a non issue from 9 years earlier is vendetta and a last ditch attempt to protect the stranglehold over the NRAI,8221; Rathore said in a statement.

8220;In 2004 the highest officials of the ISSF were absolutely convinced about my credibility and had cleared me. I am amazed at the resistance of a few NRAI officials to allow free and fair elections. These things won8217;t stop like-minded athletes from trying to clean up Indian sports,8221; the 43-year-old Colonel added.

Claiming that Rathore8217;s allegations were baseless,NRAI President Raninder Singh said that the body was 8220;with8221; Rathore in 2004 and continues to 8220;support8221; him even now.

8220;This is baseless. All I can say is that we are always with the athletes. We were with him back in 2004 and we are with him now,8221; Raninder said. Raninder expressed surprise at the sudden surfacing of a nine-year old issue.

8220;What is the relevance of all this? It was the international body which has exonerated him then. How has the ISSF let him off I can answer nothing about it.

8220;We have stringent anti-doping commitments.8221; Raninder rubbished Rathore8217;s claims that this was a ploy to 8220;deviate8221; the attention ahead of the Delhi HC8217;s May 30 ruling.

8220;Why should I deviate from this? We have to listen to court,we will go according to the court of law. There had been two verdicts 8212; one has come in our favour,and one in his by a single bench. We have filed an appeal to the double bench,8221; Raninder said.

The NRAI had filed an appeal in the Delhi HC after the court declared the shooting body8217;s elections as null and void.

The procedure adopted for electing four representatives as life members on March 4,and April 6 NRAI polls,had been challenged by Rathore.

Taking note of Rathore8217;s plea,the court had said that denying him the right to contest elections was not justified,which prompted the NRAI to take legal discourse.