New Delhi: After being tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid, two-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) champion weightlifter Sanjita Chanu has said Friday, she will challenge the provisional suspension imposed on her claiming that she is innocent.
“I am innocent. I have not taken any banned substance. I will challenge this with the help of the national federation,” Sanjita told this agency.
Sanjita, who had won gold in the women’s 53kg category in the recently concluded Gold Coast CWG, was suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) tested positive for testosterone. The sample was taken during an out-of-competition test prior to the World Championship in Anaheim (US) in November last year.
Chanu however, got the backing of Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) general secretary Sahdev Yadav, who said he was confident of the Manipuri’s innocence. “We don’t understand why the dope result took so long. After the sample was taken, she competed in the World Championship in November last and then she won gold in the Gold Coast CWG in April. We will fight it out why this is happening,” Yadav asserted.
Yadav also added that they have written to the IWF for the sample’B’ test and if Sanjita fails that test too then she could be banned for four years from the sport.
“After we get all the results we will hire a top lawyer to present our case at the hearing (at the international federation). I am sure Sanjita has not taken any banned drugs. I am confident we will prove her innocence,” Yadav added.
The 24-year-old Sanjita was included in the Sports Ministry’s Target Podium Scheme (TOPS) in May for her Asian Games preparations but it is expected that her name is going to be struck off from the list if she is finally ruled to have committed the dope offence.
The sample was taken during an out-of-competition test prior to the World Championship in November last year. I don’t understand why the result took so long
Sahdev Yadav