Malleswari quits Indian Weightlifting Federation citing dissatisfaction

2000 Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari has reportedly resigned as the vice-president of Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).

According to reports, Malleswari was upset with the way the IWLF was working and felt that the federation was being run by people who do not know anything about the sport.

However, when contacted IWF secretary Sahdev Yadav said they have not yet received the resignation letter from Malleswari.

"I don't know. We have come to know about it only through media," Yadav told PTI.

Malleswari, country's first woman to win an Olympic medal, also complained of politics in the IWLF and felt that the performance of the lifters had gone down considerably under the current regime.

Asked about Malleswari's claims, Yadav said, "If performance has gone down it is because of strict disciplinary actions taken by the federation in the wake of growing doping cases. Performance will improve within a year."

Yadav, in turn said, the federation had offered the job of the coach to Malleswari but she rejected it and even skipped at least five meetings of the selection committee, of which she is a member.

Malleswari, a few months back, had accused coach Ramesh Malhotra of sexually harassing lifters under his charge.

However, a committee set up to look into the claims, did not frame any charge against Malhotra. The lifters in question had given in writing to the federation that they were not harassed by Malhotra.