Indian federation, facing ban, drops Asian meet

Shailaja Pujari competes in women's up to 75kgs weightlifting final at 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, August 3, 2002. India's national weightlifting federation has pulled out of hosting the Asian junior meet in December as it faces a possible suspension following a spate of positive dope tests by its lifters.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's national weightlifting federation has pulled out of hosting the Asian junior meet in December as it faces a possible suspension following a spate of positive dope tests by its lifters.

"We've declined to host it," Indian Weightlifting Federation secretary B.R.Gulati told Reuters on Tuesday.

Seven Indian lifters, including international medallists, were caught in out-competition tests conducted last month by the international body as well as national anti-doping officials.

The Indian federation, banned twice in the past over doping, faces another suspension that could keep the team out of the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from Oct. 3-14, 2010.

"Under the present circumstance, the environment is not conducive (for the junior meet)," Gulati said. "The government certainly is not giving us any support at the moment and getting sponsors is also tough with this cloud hanging."

The International Weighlifting Federation (IWF) executive board is expected to take a decision next month when it meets at the world championships in South Korea.

"At that time if there is a ban or even a suspension for six months, we won't be able to host it," he said. "So we can't leave it till that stage."

None of the lifters had submitted requests for B sample tests until the Tuesday deadline, he added.

India has repeatedly faced embarrassment due to doping among its lifters and the national body was banned in 2004 and 2006, because three or more lifters tested positive in a calendar year.

Two of those caught this time face life bans, having been caught in the past. They are Shailaja Pujari, women's 75kg gold medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and men's 56kg lifter Vicky Batta.

(Reporting by N.Ananthanarayanan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)