Two days after her competition ended, 26-year-old Swati Singh, could be the latest addition to the Indian medallists list. The fourth-placed Indian lifter in 53 kg women's competition could move up to bronze, if the original gold medallist Nigerian Chika Amalaha tests positive again with her sample B.
If Swati moves to bronze, another Indian lifter Santoshi Matsa will be awarded the silver, as she was third in the competition which was originally held on Friday, July 25.
In case of re-jigging of medals — Matsa with silver and Swati the bronze — the additional medal will take Indian tally from weightlifting to 11 medals. So far India has won three gold, three silver and four bronze, and it could go up to three gold, four silver and five bronze. India is the highest medal winner in lifting at these Games and Nigeria is next.
The Indian chef-de-Mission Raj Singh said, "I have also heard this news, but we will wait for the official communication and any changes in the medals. It is something that we cannot speak about right now."
The Commonwealth Games Federation said the Nigerian Amalaha was provisionally suspended from the Games after an in-competition drugs test resulted in an anti-doping violation.
The 16-year-old Amalaha provided an A sample on 25 July — shortly after winning the women's 53kg category — which revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents. Amalaha will have a 'B' sample tested at a laboratory in London on 30 July.
On the question of re-awarding the medal, the CGF president Mike Hooper said, nothing should be presumed till the Sample B is tested on Wednesday (July 30) in London.
He said, "That is when (after the test) we can decide on the re-awarding of medals and appropriate action."
Hooper, officially announced at briefing, "We [have] issued a formal notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition test. That athlete is Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha who was tested on July 25th. That athlete has now been suspended from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow."
Hooper added: "(The substances) Are diuretics and masking agents. In general terms, these substances are on the prohibited list for two reasons — firstly in weight category sports they can be used to unfairly aid weight loss … and secondly, their use has been reported in attempts to mask the presence in the body of other prohibited substances.
"The relevant processes, as detailed in our anti-doping standard for the Games, are now being followed and Ms Amalaha has pursued her right to have her B sample tested. This will take place at an accredited laboratory in London tomorrow, 30 July. Upon receipt of those results the process will continue."
Hooper also said, "Our robust anti-doping system is in place and we want to send a message to those that decide to cheat that they will be caught. Weightlifting is a core sport to the programme."
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