Sports Ministry to inquire into bribe scandal
The Sports Ministry has decided to inquire into the alleged bribe scandal in the Indian Weightlifting Federation over selection of dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry has decided to inquire into the alleged bribe scandal in the Indian Weightlifting Federation over selection of dope-tainted lifter Shailaja Pujari for the Beijing Olympics, a move which the IWF secretary has described as a blatant infringement on the autonomy of a sports body.
Taking a serious view of the bribe allegations, the Ministry has also directed the IWF that Monika Devi should be selected for the Olympics instead of Shailaja, who is accused of paying Rs 5 lakhs to secretary Baldev Raj Gulati to represent India at the Games.
Gulati was alleged to have taken the bribe to select Shailaja ahead of Monika, who won the lone Olympic berth for India in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May.
Gulati, has, however, described the allegations as "rubbish and baseless" and said he has never done such a thing in his career as a sports administrator.
"Reports against your involvement for taking advance money for inclusion of a player in the Olympic squad and other serious manipulations (that) took place in the selection trails for giving undue advantage to a lifter needs to be looked into," a Sports Ministry letter to Gulati said.
The Ministry has directed the IWF to cancel the repeat trials scheduled for July 15 while also making it clear that none other than Monika would represent the country in the Olympics.
Taking a serious view of the bribe allegations, the Ministry has also directed the IWF that Monika Devi should be selected for the Olympics instead of Shailaja, who is accused of paying Rs 5 lakhs to secretary Baldev Raj Gulati to represent India at the Games.
Gulati was alleged to have taken the bribe to select Shailaja ahead of Monika, who won the lone Olympic berth for India in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May.
Gulati, has, however, described the allegations as "rubbish and baseless" and said he has never done such a thing in his career as a sports administrator.
"Reports against your involvement for taking advance money for inclusion of a player in the Olympic squad and other serious manipulations (that) took place in the selection trails for giving undue advantage to a lifter needs to be looked into," a Sports Ministry letter to Gulati said.
The Ministry has directed the IWF to cancel the repeat trials scheduled for July 15 while also making it clear that none other than Monika would represent the country in the Olympics.
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