She was selected because of her performance in the Asian Championships held in Japan in April where she bagged silver and bronze medals.

Here the question is raised as to why SAI had not given the report to the (IWF) which should have informed the hapless girl .She came to know about the dope test report and cancellation of her dream trip dream trip to participate in the Olympics from TV channels. The SAI is charged with the violation of the Rule 18.4 (Public Disclosure) of the Anti-doping Policy.

It should also be noted that the official report on Monika was sent by the SAI to the IWF on August 6 at 12.30 PM nine hours after the Indian contingent left for the Olympics.Prima facie the SAI can be accused of playing with the career of a weightlifter whom they are supposed to promote through her federation.

It is also noteworthy that the IWF on August 6 asked the SAI to make immediate arrangement for a fresh dope test of the player as the report submitted by SAI was considered irregular and not as per the WADA norms of dope testing. Here the cat is out of the bag. What is the necessity for it just before her departure?

It is for nothing that some pre-planned machination is suspected so far as the weightlifter of the 69 kg category from the Northeast is concerned.

The IWF on August 8 submitted recommendation of its Review Panel to the Indian Olympic Association and requested her acceptance for immediate travel to the Chinese capital at the earliest since the subsequent three dope tests were found negative with no mention of her pending report of June 6,2008. Another review panel was held on August 9 and it cleared her to participate in the Beijing Olympics rejecting the previous negative report. But it was too late for the authorities to make necessary arrangements for her participation.

One must compliment Monika Devi for exposing the evil designs of some people presiding over organizations concerning promotion of sports and sports persons. But it is no longer a secret that some of these have become hotbeds of bickering and petty politics and are home to many who are only interested in furthering the cause of their kith and kin.

Monika has suffered because she refused to play their nefarious game. The CBI,which has been requested by the Manipur Chief Minister Mr. O.Ibobi Singh cary out a probe on this controversial issue must also look into the allegation that she has to pay a heavy price for rejecting the overtures of some officials who have lustrous eyes on her. What else is the cause? Is it not a fact that some officials in the sports bodies are erroneously of the view that the girls from the North East are promiscious and readily available?

It is regrettable that while the whole of Manipur, irrespective of political differences is united on the issue; some other states in the North-East are not as vocal as they should to be in protest against the injustice meted out to this promising weightlifter.

The Manipur Student’s Association, Delhi (MSAD) staged a demonstration in Delhi against the Sports Authority of India. The students demanded immediate suspension of Director, SAI, R.K. Naidu besides a CBI probe into the doping controversy. Manipur Chief Secretary wrote an official letter to Union Secretary of Personnel Satyananda Mishra to issue necessary orders to the CBI to take up the inquiry on the concerned SAI Officials. The CM, also dashed off a letter to the Prime Minister stating that the correspondence exchanged between the IWA, the SAI and the IOA suggested that the dope test reports of Monika Devi were not properly handled.

In its editorial, the Assam Tribune termed this episode a ‘bureaucratic blunder’ and a ‘conspiracy’ after another lifter Shailaya Pujari was barred from taking part in the games. The manner in which she was denied a ticket to Beijing illustrates the unwarranted intrusion of political and bureaucratic forces into the arena of sports. This shows the Indian Sports Administration in poor light. From Lok Sabha, the Speaker too had come out in support of M. Devi and said that he would take up the matter personally with the Prime Minister.

Monika Devi was not convinced that the inquiry entrusted to former CEC, T.S. Krishnamurthy, would be able to remove the deep rooted nepotism and discrimination in the Indian Sports system. She said that the one man inquiry commission and SAI Officials would collude to cover-up the goof up.

Minister of State for Sports & Youth Affairs, Dr. M.S. Gill after meeting M. Devi held  a detailed discussion with the concerned officials over the dope test issue, and raised questions over her dope testing and the timing and release of the reports. He is also determined to set up an independent technically proficient dope testing mechanism which will have credibility so that no other athletes suffer the same fate in the future.

Pranab Kumar Chakravarty

“I am ready to go to Beijing where my dope test is scheduled for tomorrow (August 7). If I fail there, leave apart banning me for life, shoot me in public”. These were the desperate cries of a desperate athelete. L. Monika Devi’s dream of an Olympic medal was shattered when she was ousted from the Olympic squad after being charged for doping hours before her departure to Beijing. The Manipur government cried foul over the matter and called for a CBI probe. Support poured in from all over the North East and from the sports loving fraternity of the country. Even the footballers who were representing the country in the Asian Confederation Cup (AFC) in Hyderabad came out in support of Monika Devi. The Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr. O. Ibobai Singh, alleged that the entire episode smacked of manipulative game played by the SAI, the National Doping Test Laboratory and the Indian Olympic Association against a sports person whose dream  has been shattered. The students of Manipur studying in New Delhi under the aegis of Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi staged a demonstration against the Sports Authority of Indian (SAI) and demanded immediate suspension of Director of SAI, RK Noida and a CBI probe into the doping controversy.

In this whole episode what is sickening is the lethargic and colous attitude of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the SAI officials.

Indian sports are so mired in politics that there is very little space for genuine sportspersons. The tiny state of Manipur has been producing world class athletes regularly, in spite of the state being plagued by militancy. But to treat a medal prospect as was done in the case of Monika Devi is to drag  a sports loving state backwards. It is a known fact that the North East has a pool of talent which has not been exploited yet, but this episode will have a negative impact on the athletes of this region. Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. P.A. Sangma too came out in support of Monika Devi and said that he would take up the matter with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Meanwhile, the people of Manipur called for a state-wide general strike against the alleged discriminatory act of the IOA and SAI authorities.

After facing widespread protest over the L. Monika Devi fiasco, the Union Minister of States for Youth Affairs and sports Dr. M.S. Gill ordered an inquiry by retired Chief Election Commissioner, T.S. Krishnamurthy. Dr. Ms. Gill said that he was determined to set up an independent technically proficient dope testing mechanism which has credibility in the world. A dope test is a difficult proposition. There are instances of weight lifters testing positive in some of the most Therefore, the authenticity of the test on Monika Devi, had to be proved beyond doubt before any action is taken. The Leader of Opposition Shri. L.K. Advani too come out in support of Monika Devi, he said that Monika Devi was the pride of Manipur and India and the issue was a very serious matter. He also said that this episode shows the sports administration in a very poor light and asked for a speed inquiry into the matter and the guilty should be punished to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.

Monika Devi who was supposed to take part in the 69 Kg category, said she was a victim of politics in sports. She was not convinced that the inquiry entrusted to former CEC, T.S. Krishnamurthy would be able to remove the deep rooted nepotism and discrimination in Indian sports. She suspects that the one man inquiry commission and SAI authorities would collude to cover up the blunder. Among other things the one man commission should look into the alleged case of regional bias in the SAI who were trying to make a case for Shailaja Pujari.

India erupted in joy after Abhinav Bindra won for India its first ever individual gold in shooting. Monica too was a prospective medal winner. Who knows, she could have done the impossible and bridged the gap between the North East and the rest of India.

EP Desk