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.”

She even suggested that she was being fabricated to clear the way for Shailaja Pujari. “It was a pre-meditated move because they did not give me tickets and other stuff required for travelling to Beijing when I asked for it and told me to collect it on the next day,” she said.

Tests galore

Gulati, who interestingly was earlier accused of taking bribe to favour Shailaja, said the federation was completely with the lifter.

“They have not followed the procedures. They have not bothered to inform me. They have not given a complete report, and what they have given is, in fact, a cumulative report of four different tests that were done on her in the past two months. “In fact, we have already been informed of one of those tests being negative. I don’t know which tests they are talking about of being positive,” he said.

Both questioned the validity of the tests, saying that SAI’s National Dope Testing Laboratory is not WADA-accredited. For his part, Naidu reiterated that the SAI’s job was only to convey the test results to the athletes, not conduct them.

“They can ask for a B-sample test, that is the athlete and the federation’s prerogative,” was all he said.

With several loopholes, and questions being raised on the timing of the result, the last has not been said in this case.

TIMELINE: An unpleasant, four-month long rollercoaster for Indian weightlifting

May: Win not enough

•Monika Devi earns India’s lone quota place in weightlifting at the Asian Championships in Japan on May 1 after winning one silver and two bronze medals.

• The IWF decides to hold selection trials to pick lifter for Beijing.

June: Trial... error

• The first selection trial held on June 29 in Pune, with three lifters — Monika Devi, Shailaja Pujari and Chhaya Devi — vying for the lone spot. Chhaya is eliminated, but the IWF defers naming the selected lifter.

July: Bribery & more

• On July 1, Shailaja is accused of paying IWF secretary BR Gulati Rs 5 lakh as bribe to be selected. Gulati dismisses allegations but the sports ministry intervenes and directs the IWF to follow procedures, asking that Monika be selected.

• Second selection trial held in Bangalore on July 15 with Monika Devi being named as India’s representative in weightlifting. Shailaja cries foul and accuses the sports ministry of favouring Monika.

• Coach trouble now. IWF names Devdutt Sharma. After protests from several quarters, the ministry asks the IWF to name a woman coach, and the federation comes up with Anita Chanu’s name. Dropped because she wasn’t fluent with English, eventually, it’s Shyamala Shetty who is picked on July 27 to travel as Monika’s coach.

August: Drug bust

•A day before she is to leave for Beijing, Monika Devi’s name is withdrawn from the Indian contingent after the lifter reportedly tests positive for a banned substance.

Unanswered questions

• The federation first claimed the test on Monika was conducted on June 29, and then contradicted it by saying it was a combined report of four tests over two months.

• The report doesn’t specify the substance that has been found in the sample. It refers to it as an ‘androgynous substance’, a term that includes testosterone, nandrolone and a host of other chemicals.

• The IWF says it wants fresh tests. But under WADA rules, there is no provision for fresh tests. Only a B sample test is possible.