Sports Minister Sunil Dutt on Friday said the government would take strong action against dope offenders, who had brought shame to the country at the Athens Olympic Games, after consultations with the concerned sports authorities.
"Once the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) officials and the WFI (Weightlifting Federation of India) officials return from Athens, we will get all the information from them and then decide what action should be taken," he told reporters in Athens on Friday in the aftermath of the scandal which broke out in Athens.
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Two Indian woman weightlifters -- Pratima Kumari and Sanamacha Chanu -- tested positive for banned drugs in the ongoing Athens Games and are among the six athletes who have been suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation pending an inquiry.
Pratima, fielded in the 63 kg category, pulled out at the eleventh hour after testing positive for testosterone in a pre-Games dope test drive conducted by the IWF and Chanu was found to have taken a banned diuretic.