Weightlifter gets life ban for second doping offence

Weightlifter B Prameelavalli was banned for life on Wednesday after failing a dope test for the second time.

Weightlifter B Prameelavalli was banned for life on Wednesday after failing a dope test for the second time. The Andhra Pradesh girl, who had returned to competitive weightlifting after serving a ban in March, was tested at the Junior National Championship in Noida last month where smashed three national records in the women8217;s 63kg category.

8220;The ban is automatic after her 8216;A8217; test results,8221; Weightlifting Federation of India secretary-general BR Gulati told The Indian Express. 8220;It can be revoked only if the 8216;B8217; sample test proves otherwise,8221; he said but added that the lifter had not asked for a 8216;B8217; sample test.

In Noida, her efforts in snatch 87 kg, clean and jerk 116 kg, and aggregate 203 kg fetched her three gold medals and helped her state win the team title, raising hopes of a good showing at the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. But a second offence in three years means her career is all but over. Prameelavalli had first tested positive during random WADA tests in Patiala just before the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and was handed a two-year ban.

UP unit banned

Meanwhile, the WFI has also slapped a one-year ban and Rs 20,000 fine on the UP Weightlifting Association after two of its lifters 8212; Manjit Singh and Pramod Goswami 8212; tested positive for banned substance at the Noida meet. Manjit won gold in the 77kg category while Pramod won silver in the 56kg. P Bhuvana of Puducherry, who won silver in the 53kg, also failed the dope test. The tainted troika faces a two-year ban.

Explaining the decision to ban the state association, Gulati said the WFI had introduced this new clause as a deterrent. 8220;We hope this will serve the purpose as the state units are expected to share the blame and responsibility. Like the WFI which is responsible for the overall weightlifting scene in the country, the state units will have to take care of their lifters and educate them,8221; he said.

As per the new clause, if two or more lifters from a particular state test positive in a calendar year, the state association will have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000 and serve a one-year ban which means, no lifter from that state will be able to participate in any WFI meets.