“I am innocent. I have always stayed away from doping and that is why I was selected,” cried weightlifter Monika Devi , who was declared positive for an “anabolic salt” in a pre-Olympic Games test here on Tuesday and dropped from the Beijing-bound Indian contingent. High drama prevailed at the Sports Authority of India office as Monika, the lone weightlifter in the squad, alleged she was being victimised by some members of SAI. She claimed SAI director (teams) R.K. Naidu had already planned to send Shailaja Pujari of AP due to a “regional allegiance”.

“Naidu had told me after the Asian Championships in Japan in April that ‘our job of winning one Olympic berth is done and now Shailaja will be sent,’” she said. “Everyone wants to promote the player of his region.” “Everyone knows there are international tests and no sensible athlete would do that (dope). I am ready to go to Beijing where my dope test is scheduled for tomorrow. If I fail there ban me for life, shoot me in public.”

Accompanied by Indian Weightlifting Federation officials and mediapersons, Monika stormed into the office of Mr Naidu, demanding a report of her dope test. Mr Naidu replied he could submit the report only to the IWF. Monika also accused him for promoting Shailaja of AP who she said had flunked the dope test “five times” but was not banned. To this, Mr Naidu replied, “I want to make it clear that against the general perception I am not from Andhra Pradesh and I have no reason to promote Shailaja.”

In Eluru, Sailaja said, “I had better performance than Monika in selection trials in Pune and Bangalore but IWF preferred Monika and kept me on stand-by. Monika is not going now but I have no information if I will be sent there.”
IWF president Harbhajan Singh said he could not take the “risk” of sending the AP lifter who had “twice” served a ban for doping. “I cannot recommend her name because if she tests positive again, it will invite a ban on the Indian federation,” he said.

courtesy: Deccan