Tainted lifters Shailaja Pujari and Vicky Batta have failed dope tests again and face life bans.

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary B R Gulati said lifter Shailaja (75kg) and Vicky (56kg) have tested positive for banned substances after separate tests were conducted.

While Shailaja failed a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) test, Vicky returned positive results in one conducted by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). “A few days ago, WADA and NADA conducted out-of-competition tests and both Shailaja and Vicky were found positive,” said Gulati.

Shailaja, who had failed a dope test in 2006, has tested positive for an anabolic steroid this time. “She can appeal against the test results but she has only three days to do that. If she doesn’t appeal then it would be taken as admission of guilt, and she would be given a life ban,” Gulati explained.

Melbourne Commonwealth Games silver medallist Vicky was caught in the doping net earlier in the 2007 National Games. “He has the time to appeal and he can approach the federation to get his B-sample tested. But if that is also found to be positive, he too would be banned for life,” Gulati said.

Huge setback

The latest doping slur has come as a huge setback for the IWF as a third positive result by an Indian this year would lead to a one-year ban on the federation.

“Weightlifting is a power sport and lifters need supplements but they have to be mindful of the banned substances. We try to educate them about the banned substances and have always told them to consult a specialist before consuming supplements,” Gulati said. “It’s the greed of a few lifters which sullies the image of not just the federation but also the entire country,” he added.