Sanjita Chanu ready to challenge doping allegation
Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu has declared that she would challenge the allegation that she's facing after failing the dope test for the Commonwealth Games. IWF secretary Sahdev Yadav also remained confident that Chanu is innocent and they would prove any claims to be completely false and baseless.
Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu, who won the gold in women’s weightlifting at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018, has been tested positive in the dope test and now, is at risk of losing her CWG 2018 gold medal. Shocked by the incident, Sanjita Chanu hopes to return clean from the doping slur.
“I am innocent, I have not taken any banned substance. I will challenge this with the help of national federation,” Sanjita has said in response to the allegation.
Before this incident, 12 doping tests from India had come positive since 2008. After relatively free dope issues, weightlifter Sushila Panwar was tested positive in the doping tests. Sanjita's allegation would be the first one in 2018 and if the 'B’ sample also returns positive, she'd be banned by IWF for four years. However, she found support from IWLF secretary.
“In any case, we have written that we would go for the 'B’ sample test. After we got 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 has said.
After IOC instructions of removing taints from the sports, IWF, as a punishment for the accused countries, will limit their quota to two men and two women in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 if the country gives 10-19 positive doping tests. Bulgaria, Iran, and India are among nine more countries that will fall in this area.