IWF gets extension for fine payment

In a respite to cash-strapped Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF),the international body has extended the deadline for it to pay the last two installments of a doping fine amounting to $ 3,75,000. IWF were to pay $ 1 lakh and 2,75,000 as third and fourth installments by July 15 and August 15 respectively but with the money still to be arranged.

International Weightlifting Federation has agreed to the request and has now asked India to pay the two installments by August 31 failing which the country would be barred from fielding its lifters in the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games here.India will also not be allowed in the World Championships in Turkey from September 17 to 26 if the fine is not paid.

India was slapped a $ 5 lakh fine after six lifters flunked out-of-competition WADA tests last year. “We have received the letter from the International Weightlifting Federation and we have been asked to pay $ 3,75,000 by August 31,” IWF President Birendra Prasad Baishya said. “Our lifters will get 12 to 14 medals in the Commonwealth Games. If we don’t pay the fine by August 31,the country will have to miss the medals,” he added.

IWF paid the first installment in January before the South Asian Games and the second installment of 75,000 before the April 4 deadline which allowed the lifters to take part in the Asian Youth and Junior Championships at Tashkent from April 7-16.