Third lifter fails dope test, IWF faces ban

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary B R Gulati confirmed that after already-tainted and Vicky Batta were caught for the second time, woman lifter Priyadarshini too has flunked a dope 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," Gulati told 'PTI-Bhasha'.

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

According to the rules of International Weightlifting Federation, 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 dope tests in a year. IWF can escape the ban if it can pay Rs one lakh fine," the source said.