Despite being absolved of the doping charge, weightlifter Monika Devi's chances of taking part in the Beijing Olympics were dashed on Sunday, as the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rejected her entry in the competition.
The Indian Olympic Association's request to allow Monika to participate was turned down by the IWF, IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said in a statement in Beijing.
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The IOA "did its best" but IWF simply did not entertain the request to allow Monika enter the field, he said.
"Despite our best of efforts and support, weightlifter Monika Devi will not be able to participate in the ongoing Olympic Games here. With the lifting event at the Games having already begun, our persuasion with the organisers, the International Olympic Committee and the International Weightlifting Federation has been of no avail," Kalmadi said.
A copy of IWF president Tamas Ajan's communication to B R Gulati, secretary-general of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, was also made available to the media, in which the game's world governing body expressed its inability to accommodate Monika.
"Following our previous communication, we hereby inform that according to International Olympic Committee protocol, following the technical Congress that took place on the 7th at 1500 hrs, it is not possible to insert, change or otherwise modify any athlete's participation or any other data for the Olympic Games," Ajan wrote.
Meanwhile, Accusing the IOA and SAI of being involved in "a big manipulative game" to keep out weightlifter Monika Devi of the Beijing Olympics, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh decided to push for a CBI probe into the whole episode.
"The entire episode appears to be a big manipulative game played by SAI, the national dope testing laboratory and the IOA against a sportsperson whose dream for Olympics has been shattered," Singh told a press conference.
He said as per the international norms the Sports Authority of India (SAI) should have made public the dope testing reports of the Manipuri weightlifter at least 72 hours before her proposed departure for the Chinese capital but this was not done.
He said the SAI report was sent to the Indian Weightlifting Federation at 12.30 pm on August 6 while Monika's flight was at 3.30 am the same day.
Singh said a probe should be conducted into how the SAI report was leaked "in violation of rules".
"The SAI, the highest authority of Indian sports, has done a great damage to the career of the Monika, it's a great injustice with a pre-planned motive, done to an international sportsperson," he said.
