WFI’s penalty: two-year ban possible

There may be a fall in the number of Indian lifters who test positive — because the Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) faces a two...

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There may be a fall in the number of Indian lifters who test positive — because the Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) faces a two-year ban for violating international doping rules.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rule on anti-doping laws states clearly that when a national federation is involved in three or more violations in a calendar year, it stands to be disaffiliated for two years.

Sanamacha Chanu and Pratima Kumari’s cases in Athens were preceded by the case of Sunaina last April, when she returned with a positive test from the Asian Championship in Almaty (Kazakhistan) and is already serving a two-year ban.

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The IWF’s Law 16 (3.1) states: ‘‘When three or more violations of these Anti-Doping Rules…are committed by athletes affiliated with a National Federation within one calendar year the IWF may in its discretion elect to:

(a) ban all officials from that National Federation from participation in any IWF activities for a period of up to two years, and/or

(b) suspend that national federation from participating in any IWF activities for a period of up to two years, and/or

(c) fine the national federation a minimum of $30,000.