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•A day before she is to leave for Beijing, Monika Devi’s name is withdrawn from the Indian contingent after the lifter reportedly tests positive for a banned substance.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

... contd.