The Sports Authority of India’s decision to grant permission to two dope-tainted lifters — Shailaja Puraji and B Prameelavalli — to attend the national camp in Patiala has not only violated the Sports Ministry guidelines but is likely to open the floodgates to such offenders in the future.The Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI), in its anxiety to swell India's medal tally in the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune (2008) and the 2010 Games in New Delhi, has requested SAI to allow Pujari and Prameelavalli at the camp in order to train for the two meets. The federation’s argument is that the two lifters were wasting time at home and are “real good prospects” to win medals. The lifters had tested positive in February, prior to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, and were slapped with a two-year ban. They are eligible to return to the mainstream only early next year.But the federation is of the opinion that the lifters will fritter away precious time if they don't start right away. “That's why a collective decision of the federation has gone in their favour,” said WFI secretary-general Balbir Singh Bhatia. He also convinced the SAI officials to give the nod to include them in the camp keeping in mind the preparation for competitions in Pune and New Delhi.Generally, dope offenders are not allowed to avail the facilities at the camp. But Bhatia’s argument is that the two lifters cannot be neglected. In WFI's scheme of things, Prameelavalli is seen as a gold medal prospect in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. “If we are thinking of winning medals we need to compromise a bit,” he said. Shailaja, however, didn’t respond to the WFI request, but according to Bhatia, Prameelavalli did attend the camp for a few days before taking a few days off. There are 11 lifters training in Patiala, preparing for the September World Championships which forms the basis for Olympic qualification.
