The Monika Devi saga is not over yet. The Indian Olympic Association has ruled out her participation at the Beijing Olympics after the weightlifter was cleared of the dope charges, but politicians from her home state Manipur are quite agitated, and have gone to the extent of demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter.

On Sunday, the lifter was to address the media over the issue here at the Manipur Bhawan. While she failed to turn up initially, state Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh took the centre stage, condemning the “grave injustice” meted out to Monika and the “pre-planned motive” behind it.

After repeated requests by the media, though, Monika, who was at the CRPF camp on the outskirts of the Capital, finally relented and showed up, but seemed clueless about the status of her case. “I have been cleared by SAI,” she said, although SAI’s role was over after submitting the report.

“My event is only on August 13, so if they want I can still go (to Beijing) and participate (in the Olympics) because I am clean,” she insisted, apparently unaware that both the IOA and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) have ruled out any chances of her competing at the Games. In fact, even her husband Santosh Kumar, who was accompanying her, confirmed that she couldn’t go now.

Fresh tests

Monika also said that she had asked for a B sample test and a fresh test but both her requests were ignored. She also kept repeating that it was a “conspiracy” to prevent her from participating in the Games.

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