Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Among Nine Caught for Doping in National Games

At least nine sportspersons, including four weightlifters and one track and field athlete, failed dope tests at the 35th National Games held in Kerala in February. Officials organising the event confirmed the news on Tuesday.

Commonwealth Games (2006) gold medallist weightlifter Geeta Rani (Punjab), Harjeet Kaur (Haryana), Komal Wakale (Maharashtra) and Mangte P Kom (Chandigarh) were the weightlifters who tested positive while hammer thrower KM Rachna (Punjab) also failed dope test.

Geeta Rani won a gold in women's 75-plus kg category in the National Games while Harjeet (women's 58kg), Mangte P Kom (women's 75kg) and Komal Wakale (women's +75kg) bagged a silver each. KM Rachna had won a silver in women's hammer throw with an effort of 56.08m.

All of them have been put under provisional suspensions by their respective federations pending confirmatory 'B' sample tests. They face the prospect of being banned for a maximum period of four years meant for first-time offenders.

The National Anti-Doping Agency has increased the ban period of first time dope offenders to maximum of four years from two years, effective from January 1, 2015.

The medals they had won at the National Games (January 31 to February 14) are expected to be confiscated and their records deleted if their 'B' samples also return positive.

Indian Weightlifting Federation Vice-President Sahdev Yadav confirmed that four lifters have returned positive for banned substances.

"Geeta Rani, Harjeet and Komal tested positive for banned stimulants while Mangte P Kom returned positive for a steroid," Yadav told PTI.

It is also learnt that Athletics Federation of India has provisionally suspended K M Rachna after the dope result.

Meanwhile, Kerala National Games CEO Jacob Punnoose told PTI that nine to 10 participants failed dope tests of 'A' samples of their urine taken during the Games.

"Nine or 10 athletes failed dope tests at the National Games," Punnoose said from Kerala, adding that he cannot divulge the details. IWF Vice-President Sahdev Yadav said that stern action will be taken against the four weightlifters if their 'B' sample also tested positive for banned substances. He also said that coaches of the weightlifters and state units will also be penalised.

"We have zero tolerance policy on dope offenders. We will take stern action against these weightlifters if their 'B' samples also confirm the 'A' sample results," he said.

"We will also not spare their coaches and will also take action against the state units," he added.

The 33-year-old Geeta Rani is among the top weightlifters of the country, having won many international medals in her career.

Besides, the gold she won in the women's +75 kg category at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, she bagged three silver at the Asian Championship in 2004 and a bronze in the 2003 Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad.

In 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, she finished fourth in women's +75 kg category.

She was also conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2006.