Sania and Rohan Bopanna had lost their mixed doubles semifinals in the Rio Olympics to American combo of Venus and Rajeev Ram.
After Russian hacking group by the name of Fancy Bears hacked and allegedly released WADA files about how several American athletes, including the Williams sisters, were allowed to take banned substances, every day seems to be bringing a new storm.
On Thursday, PTI reported that Indian tennis player Sania Mirza had demanded that AITA takes up the matter with the appropriate authorities.
The pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna lost to Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram of the United States in the mixed doubles semi-final round of the Rio Olympics. Venus and Rajeev Ram finished as silver medalists. According to IOC rules, if any medallist is caught in the dope net, he or she will be stripped of the medal. Then, the medal may be given to the athletes who finished behind the original medallist. Just like in the case of Yogeshwar Dutt and the London Olympics.
Late on Thursday night, Sania, who is world number one in women's doubles rankings, took to Twitter to address the matter. Taking a subtle jibe at the media reports, she tweeted -
According to PTI's report, Sania's mother Naseema had called up AITA Life President and ITF Vice President Anil Khanna on Thursday morning asking him to look into the matter.
Even Ashok Kumar, who is from AITA affiliated unit of Telangana, has requested AITA to take up the matter. A senior AITA functionary confirmed the development to PTI but said they can't rush into the matter since it still needs to be established if Venus is actually at fault.
"Based on just some news we can't make a claim, the process has to be followed. We need to approach IOA, IOA will then take it up to IOC because the Olympics is their purview. We can't jump the gun," the office-bearer told PTI.
He cited the example of Russian star Maria Sharapova, who was recently banned for using banned meldonium. "Something has surfaced. Someone is going to establish the truth, till the truth is established we can't make a claim. We will have to wait. Whatever needs to be done, we will do it. We are waiting for actual facts to be revealed officially. Like it happened with Sharapova. In this case, it is just a news," he said. "If the news prove wrong, we will lose face. This is the perfect stand that we have taken. We are not going to rush it."
According to documents released by the Fancy Bears hackers' team, Venus was allowed to take prednisone, prednisolone, and triamcinolone, among others, in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Under WADA Rules, athletes may take substances for which they will procure a Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)—waivers that allow them to treat medical conditions with medications that may appear on WADA's prohibited items list. It has also been reported that ITF has confirmed that the Williams sisters had permission for the therapeutic use of banned drugs. ITF has also come out in favour of the Williams sisters.
(With PTI inputs)
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 "Tennis, Sania Mirza, World Ant-Doping Agency, Venus Williams, Rio 2016, Rajeev Ram, Rohan Bopanna, All India Tennis Association")
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