NEW DELHI: The Indian Weightlifting Federation will not be able to enter its lifters in international competitions till it pays a fine of $50,000 imposed on it as an anti-doping sanction, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has clarified.

The stipulation about the fine would continue to apply even after the original one-year suspension period elapses in March next year, the IWF further clarified in a communication to The Hindu last Saturday.

India was banned by the IWF following four dope positives during February-March this year, two of them at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Initially the ban was for a period of one year with a fine of $50,000 and the Indian federation was given to understand that in case of failure to pay up, the ban would extend to a second year.

Paving the way

The one-year suspension was lifted by the IWF following its Executive Board meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on September 28, paving the way for India's participation in the Doha Asian Games. The Indian federation, however, has not been in a position to raise an amount of nearly Rs. 23 lakhs to pay the fine nor was it prepared to enter its competitors in the Doha Games without adequate preparation.

There were some doubts within the Indian federation whether the fine would apply even after March 2007, when the suspension would have run its course.

"The decision (to allow India to compete) was made as the ban was lifted but the payment sanction remains in force and does not allow India to participate until it is paid," says Dr. Monika Ungar, IWF's legal counsel in reply to a query.

Dr. Ungar stated that the financial sanction might turn out to be a "bigger punishment" for a country and the amount would be spent on a more extensive anti-doping programme. She also indicated that it would not be IWF's intention to sanction countries with suspensions in future.

The IWF has already claimed success in its programme as just one lifter (not a medal winner) returned a positive at the recent World championships in Santo Domingo.

From a longer-term perspective, missing the World championships in September has already done damage to India's Olympics qualification prospects. The primary qualification route for the 2008 Beijing Games will be based on a points system in the 2006 and 2007 World championships. The cumulative points gained will help nations fill up 120 slots in the men's section (for teams ranked up to 27th) and 57 berths in the women's section (for teams ranked up to 17th).

More qualification places will be available through continental qualification events in 2007. However, just one place each will be available in the women's section for the top four teams in the Asian qualification event.

If a country has not gained a qualification slot even after the 2006 and 2007 World championships and the continental qualification meet, then the IWF will allot individual qualification berths for the top-10 lifters in each weight category subject to a maximum of eight in men's and seven in women's section.

Ten more places (six men and four women) will be available through Tripartite Commission invitations while the host country, China, will be eligible to enter six men and four women directly.

"It will not be impossible for us to get quota places if we are able to enter our full team in the next World championships," said the Indian federation Secretary, Balbir Singh Bhatia, on Monday.

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