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The
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), on the recommendation of World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) dropped the doping charge against Chanu after more
than two-and-a-half years of investigation.
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New Delhi(Agencies): Her
name cleared of doping charges, two-time Commonwealth Games champion Sanjita
Chanu is hoping to receive the recognition she deserves, starting with the
prestigious Arjuna Award which has eluded her.
The International
Weightlifting Federation (IWF), on the recommendation of World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) dropped the doping charge against Chanu after more than
two-and-a-half years of investigation, making the 26-year-old eligible to apply
for the prestigious Award.
“I applied for Arjuna first in 2016 but I was
not given it then. I was ignored again in 2017 despite having the points,”
Chanu told PTI from Manipur. “But then because of this dope case I was
ineligible. I am going to try and get it now.”
Chanu, who won gold at the
2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games in 48kg and 53kg respectively, has been trying
for the prestigious Award for the past four years. After she was ignored for a
second time in 2017, she filed a written petition before the Delhi HC,
challenging the decision of the Awards Committee to exclude her name from
nomination.
The High Court in its order
had directed the Awards Committee to consider Chanu for the Arjuna Award and
keep its decision in a sealed cover to be disclosed only if she is absolved of
the doping charges which happened on June 8.
Chanu, 26, had applied for the
award last month as her provisional suspension was revoked and IWF had allowed
her to compete in tournaments. However, since her case was not closed, the
Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) informed her that she was ineligible for
the sports awards, which cannot be given to dope-tainted athletes. But on
Wednesday, the IWLF wrote to the sports ministry to comply with the High Court
order.
“I have always performed well and have two
medals in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and in Gold Coast without doping. I
am lifting for 11-12 years. I don’t know why I have been ignored for this award
till now,” Chanu added.
The deadline for submitting
applications for the national sports awards has also been extended till June 22
by the sports ministry. Chanu, who holds the CWG snatch record in the 53kg
weight category, is happy after being exonerated of the doping charges that
once pushed her to the brink of quitting the sport, but the weightlifter says
the final verdict feels bitter-sweet as she’s still struggling to find closure.
“I am very happy. I was waiting for this day
for so many years. But the result is also sad as my life has changed
completely. It has been ruined because of this case,” she said.
After demanding answers and
explanations for over a year and a half since her provisional ban was lifted
last year in January, on Tuesday night, Chanu received an email from IWF just
stating the case was “closed” and the “IWF has decided to withdraw the
charges.”
“They should give a proper response. Instead
they have just written two lines. I have suffered so much because of this. This
cannot end it like this. You put an athlete under suspension for years without
a final judgement, and one fine day you send an email saying that you are now
free from charges?” Chanu said.
“I cannot explain what I have gone through, to
be kept in uncertainty for so long. I was so disheartened that I thought I’d
just leave the sport because what happened to me was so incredibly unfair.”
In a case that was marred with
discrepancies at every level, Chanu is now demanding an apology and
compensation from the IWF for causing her mental trauma.
“Obviously
an apology won’t take away my suffering. But I want an explanation because
there is still no clarity about my case. I will file case against the IWF to Court
of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),” she said.
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