It was a scene straight out of a book. A day after the name of Monika Devi, India’s lone weightlifter at the Beijing Olympics, was withdrawn from the contingent after testing positive for an “androgynous steroid”, the lifter confronted Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials, and the meeting soon turned into a brawl.

With Monika accusing SAI executive director (Teams) RK Naidu of “manipulating” her samples and demanding a fresh test, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), too, has gone on the offensive, blaming everyone but itself.

“You mixed up my samples to favour (her 69 kg rival Shailaja Pujari),” she accused Naidu.

“We are simply following the procedures,” countered Naidu.

“I was here till late last night, why wasn’t I told about the report?” she questioned.

‘Vested interests’

It may appear to be a case of yet another Indian weightlifter testing positive for banned substances but, this time around, there are more questions than answers thrown up by the whole drama. Monika, along with IWF secretary BR Gulati and her husband Santosh Kumar, met several IOA and SAI officials throughout the day, blaming “vested interests” for manipulating her samples and dragging her into the controversy.

“I am innocent. I have always stayed away from doping and that is why I was selected in the trials,” she claimed. “Everyone knows there are various international tests and no sensible athlete would dope. I am ready to go to Beijing where my dope test is scheduled for tomorrow. If I fail there, shoot me in public.”

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