World weightlifting body to take strict action against India

New Delhi, Nov 21 : The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has said it will take strong disciplinary action against the dope tainted Indian federation for the repeated offences of its lifters.

IWF legal counsel Monika Ungar said the executive board is waiting for all the pending cases of the six Indian lifters who tested positive to be decided before taking a decision on the sanctions to be imposed on the Indian Weightlifting Federation.

The world body is expected to discuss the issue later Saturday at its executive committee meeting in Goyang city, South Korea, where the World Championships are taking place.

"India has repeatedly produced multiple cases of doping in recent years, but the cases are still open. The executive board shall take a very strong action against the Indian federation once all the cases are closed. Such actions will be made public upon the closure of the last case," Ungar said in a statement Friday.

She said the cases of the six Indian weightlifters, who returned positive in out-of-competition World Anti Dopng Agency tests in September, were pending under "results management".

"There won't be any final decision until all the cases are closed."

The executive committee of the Indian Weightlifting Federation resigned this week taking "moral responsibility" for the series of doping violations. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will conduct fresh elections to reconstitute the body.

The Indian federation has twice been banned in 2004 and 2006 because of more than three or more doping violations in a calendar year.

Under international rules, three or more violations in one calendar year may result in the "national federation being banned from participation in international tournaments for a period of up to two years and/or be imposed a fine of at least $50,000".

If there are four or more additional violations in a 12-month period, it could result in a suspension of up to four years and exclusion from the next Olympics.