Monica Devi, the only weightlifter chosen to represent India for the Beijing Olympics will not be in Beijing at all. Rather, she will be cooling her heels back home, after she failed a drug test (Hat Tip: Tony via email) and tested positive for “anabolic salt”.

Anonymous sources told PTI that the drug test was conducted on June 29 and was revealed hours before the squad was to leave for Beijing.

She has proven to be a winner and her three medals (one silver and two bronze) in the Asian Championship earlier this year clinched India an Olympic berth. But in the Olympic trials, she was outshone by another weightlifter in her category and yet was chosen (link).

A silver medal winner in the 69kg category at the 2006 Commonwealth Games [Images] in Melbourne, Monika Devi had been unanimously selected by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ahead of Shailaja Pujari for Beijing.
The IWF had then said that her selection was based on a trial in Bangalore, resting all allegations of bribery in the selection.

While the failed drug test and the subsequent withdrawal does evoke much sadness, one is unable to comprehend why and how the results of a drug test could be available only a month or more after the test, specifically considering that the event for which the test is pertinent happens a week later. One also fails to comprehend the need for a trial if the choice is going to be unanimous regardless of performance in the said trial.

Sad are the happenings in Indian sport.

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