Sports Ministry to inquire into bribe scandal

NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry has decided to inquire into the alleged bribe scandal in the Indian Weightlifting Federation over selection of dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics, a move which the IWF secretary has described as a blatant infringement on the autonomy of a sports body.

Taking a serious view of the bribe allegations, the Ministry has also directed the IWF that Monika Devi should be selected for the Olympics instead of Shailaja, who is accused of paying Rs 5 lakhs to secretary Baldev Raj Gulati to represent India at the Games.

Gulati was alleged to have taken the bribe to select Shailaja ahead of Monika, who won the lone Olympic berth for India in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May.

Gulati, has, however, described the allegations as "rubbish and baseless" and said he has never done such a thing in his career as a sports administrator.

"Reports against your involvement for taking advance money for inclusion of a player in the Olympic squad and other serious manipulations (that) took place in the selection trails for giving undue advantage to a lifter needs to be looked into," a Sports Ministry letter to Gulati said.

The Ministry has directed the IWF to cancel the repeat trials scheduled for July 15 while also making it clear that none other than Monika would represent the country in the Olympics.

"Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is of the opinion that it will be highly objectionable if any other girl than Ms. Monica Devi represents India in the Beijing Olympics 2008. SAI and MYAS is of the view that Ms. Monica shoud represent India in the Olympics. As far as the repeat Selection Trials is concerned, SAI and MYA&S is not in favour and feels it is an unnecessary exercise," the ministry communication said.

Gulati has, however, vehemently opposed this move and said in his reply, "... to thrust your opinion on the Selection committee of an autonomous Federation will be objected and fought out as infringement on our autonomy. As the office bearer, I am bound to point out this and protest if the Selection committee feels otherwise (on the selection of Monika)."

The Ministry letter, signed by SAI Director (Teams) RK Naidu, said ShailAja violated International Weightlifting Federation rules by using four types of knee bandages at a time during the selection trials and her lift should not have been counted.

IWF Vice President (nominated) CVR Prasad had alleged that Shilaja was allowed to used knee bandages more than what the rules allowed and when he protested he was told to leave the trial room by Gulati on June 29.

"As per the reports received from the Govt. representatives about the Selection Trials held on 29th June, it is learnt that Ms. Shailja Pujari, used four types of knee bandages at a time and took advantage of reinforcement which is against the rule of International Weightlifting Federation and her lifts for both Snatch and Clean and Jerk had to be no lift. Considering her performance by the Selection Committee of IWF is not conducive," the Ministry letter said.

Gulati, on the other hand, said he was the one who denied Shailaja the lift where she did not complete lift in time after removing bandages, adding that a lifter could not be disqualified from the slection trials on account of the bandages but her lift in an attempt could be declared no lift.

"You may have overlooked the fact that I was only ex-officio member of this committee and could not have any influence on the committee present in full strength (with 3 Govt. observers and one official of Federation in attendance) beyond giving statistics which were all against Shailaja and pressed hard by me," he said in his reply.

Gulati interestingly revealed that he had urged to have a dope test done on Shailaja considering Shailaja's "unusual improvement" improvement since she returned in February this year to compete after serving out a two-year ban for doping before the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Shailaja had participated in the Asian Championship in Kanazawa (Japan) in April-May and stood fifth in 75kg category and she had also reportedly done well in the selection trials on June 29 in Pune.

"I have also urged WADA test on their samples since Shailaja's unusual improvement is cause of concern and deeper investigation being out of normal projections in any weightlifter in such short period. This was hammered by me but we have to have some conclusive proof for eliminating some one who has participated," the IWF Secretary said.

Gulati termed the Ministry stipulation to "select a female coach who would escort a female lifter in the Olympics rather than a male coach" as "a dangerous trend to divide the Federation on gender lines and cannot be mandatory as it is against Federation constitution".

"We oppose this concept and will be willing to present our case to IOA/Govt. for legal remedies. I am echoing only Federation's principled objections to such inroads in their autonomy. This will be opposed," he said.

Gulati also opposed the Minstry's decision to immediately shift the Senior Women National Coaching Campers from Army Sports Institute (ASI) Pune to National Institute of Sports Patiala which he said "has now an imprint of mass dope testing scandals and positive tests and manipulations".

"Shifting of the camp cannot be a unilateral decision without Federation's consultations. We are already in dock with the Ministry for all ills of NIS Patiala and we will want any place other than Patiala which has now an imprint of mass dope testing scandals and positive tests and manipulations at least for weightlifters. We have already explained to Hon'ble Minister and will not accept Patiala," he said.

"Any unilateral decision on this will be recorded as SAI's sole responsibility of adverse consequences. Track record of coaching at Patiala overrules this option, in Federation's opinion," Gulati added.