Indian weightlifter under IWF dope scanner: Details here
Indian weightlifter Swati Singh has found herself under the scanner of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for doping violations. This has surfaced after she returned an adverse analytical finding for morphine, according to a IWF statement. However, the world body has not clarified whether she committed a doping violation or not. Here's more.
IWF issues statement on Swati
The International Weightlifting Federation didn't divulge any information about the competition in which Swati returned the AAF. The athlete is a 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in the women's 53 kg category. "IWF reports that the sample of Ms. Swati Singh (IND) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Morphine (S7. Narcotics)," the IWF stated on its official website.
Morphine falls in the narcotics sub-category of drugs
As per the rules, morphine falls in the narcotics sub-category of drugs under specified stimulants which are prohibited in-competition, according to World Anti-Doping Agency.
IWF will comment only when Swati's case is closed
Meanwhile, Swati will not face any ban until it is proved she committed an anti-doping rule violation as per the rules. "In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is close," the statement said.
Incidents of doping among Indian weightlifters
Earlier in May 2019, as per the IWF, more than 10 top weightlifters, including a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, were recalled from the Indian national training camp in Patiala . They were provisionally banned after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The lifters will be handed a four-year ban if charged guilty. They missed the trials for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.
15 weightlifters served notices and suspended by NADA
In another incident, 15 lifters including 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ravi Kumar, were served notices and provisionally suspended by the NADA. A majority of these lifters were tested during the national championships at Visakhapatnam in February 2019. These athletes tested positive for "clomiphene metabolite" and "other anti-estrogenic substances, which are on WADA's 2019 prohibited list.
