By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Saturday stressed that Monika Devi cannot join the Olympics contingent even as it was reported that she has been cleared of the dope charges.
India’s sole weightlifting contender Monika was withdrawn in the last minute from the contingent after her dope test done by Sports Authority of India returned positive.
The Manipur lifter though claimed she was innocent and said she was being framed.
A television report Saturday said Monika has been cleared by SAI after Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reportedly took up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
When contached in Beijing, a senior IOA official said they have no information about any such meeting.
“In any case the time is too short for Monika to compete in Olympics,” he said.
“She has tested positive and there is no reason why she should compete in Beijing. We have no information that she is coming here,” he told IANS.
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Harbhajan Singh and Secretary General B R Gulati did not answer telephone calls.
Manipur Olympic Association and the weightlifting association from the state had strongly protested against Monika being dropped from the team.
Hundreds of sportspersons launched a sit-in protest and took out a rally in front of Chief Minister’s official residence in Imphal.