The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has stated that it would take “very strong action” against the Indian Weightlifting Federation once procedures are completed with regard to the six ‘positive’ doping cases involving Indian lifters.
The IWF Executive Board, which met in Goyang City, South Korea, on Saturday, discussed the Indian issue but left a final decision pending since the cases of the six lifters were under ‘results management’ process.
The EB noted that India had “repeatedly produced multiple (‘positive’) cases in recent years” and it would take “very strong action against the Indian Federation once the cases are all closed. Such actions will be made public upon the closure of the last case,” said the IWF media spokesman, Dezso Dobor, in a communication on Saturday.
If the charges against three or more lifters are proved and the IWF hearing panel hands out four-year suspensions to the competitors, the Indian federation faces a ban of up to two years apart from fines.
The Executive Committee of the Indian federation resigned en bloc last Monday, handing over the control of the federation to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in an apparent attempt to soften the expected blow for India.
The IWF had asked the IOA to dismiss the leadership of the Indian federation and call for fresh elections.
Within the IOA and weightlifting circles it was argued that a one-year suspension, beginning from September this year, would still enable India to compete in the Commonwealth Games in October next year.
Hopes may have receded a little following the tone of the IWF statement on Saturday.
