In what could be termed as one of the biggest doping scandals in recent years, as many as 21 weightlifters have been provisionally suspended by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after testing positive for banned substances. The lifters tested positive across different championships — both out-of-competition and in-competition. However, the maximum numbers of offenders were caught at the National Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, held in Yamunanagar in January. During the National Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, eight lifters had tested positive.
Punjab’s Simranpreet Kaur, who won a gold medal in 63kg in both the Youth and Junior categories, tested positive, besides Amritpal Singh (85kg, gold) and Arshdeep Kaur (58kg, silver) in the same tournament. In fact, three of the four weightlifters, who had failed dope tests at the 35th National Games held in Kerala in January-February, were from the Northern States. Other weightlifters who tested positive-tested are 2006 CWG gold medallist Geeta Rani (Punjab), Harjeet Kaur (Haryana) and Mangte P Kom (Chandigarh).