Weightlifting body looks for loan to pay doping fine
Miffed at the indifference of the sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) Saturday said it is being forced to look for financial assistance from other sources to pay off the hefty fine the international federation has imposed for doping sanctions.
The IWLF took this stand a day after the sports ministry's joint secretary Injeti Srinivas again reminded the IOA and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) of their "primary obligation" to ensure that all teams participate in the Games.
The IWLF has paid $125,000 and if the remaining amount of $375,000 is not paid by Aug 31, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) will ban India from competing in international competitions.
Indian weightlifters will thus not be able to compete in the Commonwealth Games here Oct 3-14. The IWF fined IWLF $500,000 after six Indian weightlifters tested positive in dope tests last year.
IWLF secretary general Sahdev Yadav told IANS that the federation is forced to look for outside help. "Time is running out for us. We have just 10 days in hand and have to arrange for $375,000 to ensure that our wrestlers are not banned. We have been demanding interest-free loans from both the sports ministry and the IOA," he said.
"Now we are looking for loan from other agencies to pay this money. I can't reveal the details as we are still negotiating with them, and hopefully we can pay the fine," Yadav added.
Both the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the sports ministry have refused any financial help to the IWLF to pay the fine. The sports ministry has refused to pay the amount because it is supporting a dope-free sport through its own National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and doesn't want to be seen in a bad light. The IOA says that it cannot help the IWLF financially as it would be seen as "abetment to doping".
A top official in sports ministry told IANS that the government wants the issue to be solved soon. "We want the deadlock to end. We are paying so much for the training of the athletes and we don't want them to miss out on the Commonwealth Games. We want to sit down with the IOA and the IWLF and solve this issue soon," the official said.
