Considering the Indian Olympic Association's suggestion to reduce the life ban slapped on three women lifters and the chief coach after the Athens doping fiasco last year, the Indian Weightlifting Federation has agreed to reverse its decision.
"We have recently received a letter from the IOA suggesting reducing the ban on three women lifters and chief coach and decided to reduce their suspension period to two years as per the WADA laws," IWF secretary-general Balbir Singh Bhatia said.
The federation had already conveyed the news to the lifters through Police Force Control Board, he said, but added that an executive committee meeting would further deliberate on the fate of Pratima Kumari and Sanamacha Chanu, who tested positive for banned drugs for the second time during Athens.
According to rules, the weightlifters could be banned for life if caught twice for a doping offence, he said.
"We have already sent letters to them conveying the news. But we will place the matter of Pratima and Sanamacha before our executive committee when it meets," Bhatia said.
Sunaina's suspension period will be over in April 2006.
Meanwhile, Pratima, who has appealed to the International Weightlifting Federation against the ban and also filed a case holding the coaches responsible for the Athens episode, said she is yet to receive any communication from the IWF.
Sanamacha, who is currently out of station, said he would meet the federation officials after returning and then only could give a statement over the issue.
Pal Singh Sandhu, who was the chief coach, said he was informed by the IWF about it over telephone and that he would be used by the federation in technical capacity but not for coaching purposes.
"I won't be able to take up any coaching assignments for two years but would be used for technical purposes, like referring and umpiring," he said.
"None of the girls have said that I advised them to take banned drugs so I will use that to appeal and vindicate my point," he added.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation overhauled its rules and banned Pratima, Sanamacha and Sunaina for life after the country was embarrassed at the world level due to their doping offences.
Pratima was tested positive for the male hormone testosterone in an out-of-competition test just before the Athens Games while Sanamacha was caught with traces of diuretic furosemide after performing at the Olympics.
Sunaina tested positive for nandrolone at the Asian championships at Almaty, Kazakhstan.
