The Hindu : Sport : Monika Devi files petition

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Thursday, Feb 26, 2009
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Monika Devi files petition

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Weightlifting Federation on a petition by woman weightlifter L. Monika Devi seeking directions for declaring illegal her disqualification from the Beijing Olympics last year on the basis of her dope test report.

She submitted that the test was illegal as the laid down procedures for conducting dope tests were not followed in her case. Therefore, she argued her disqualification on that basis was also invalid.

She also sought compensation and action against the responsible officers of the SAI for disqualifying her from the Olympics on the basis of an “illegal” test report.

Issuing the notices, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat asked the respondents to file replies to the petition by April 2.

Another Bench of the Court is seized of another petition (a public interest litigation) in the matter filed by Monika and others, seeking a direction for framing guidelines for resolution of disputes in sports relating to doping, selection of teams and maintenance of discipline among players.

Another prayer of the petitioners is to set aside all on-going proceedings against Monika relating to the dope test conducted last year and followed up at the WADA-accredited Tokyo laboratory last month.

Monika had been barred from participating in the Beijing Olympics when she had tested positive in a dope test.

The other petitioners in this petition are L. Ibomcha Singh, a former MLA of Manipur, and social activist Dr. T.H. Suresh Singh.

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