"I will blame the athletes first for this state of affairs and the federation next. There were few cases of doping before 2000. From 1990 to 2000 Olympic bronze I came up step by step by sheer hard work but now youngsters want short cuts to fame and money.
"Had the federation handed offenders strong punishment when the malaise cropped up initially doping would not have been such a big issue as it is now. Now also the situation is nothing better and the federation is not doing anything.
"If you let somebody off the hook others will also think they will also be let off. We need a complete overhaul of the system to bring the sport to the pedestal again," said the lifter from Srikakulam from Andhra Pradesh.
Malleswari rubbished claims of many a lifters after being caught for doping that they don't know which drug was banned or they might have taken unintentionally.
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"Before any international tournament you have a national camp and there you are told by SAI doctors of the banned drugs and you can take medicines for even a minor illness on the prescription of the doctor there," she said.
Malleswari also rued the lack of well-intentioned people in the official hierarchy who want to lift the sport from the present woeful state and advised the federation to rope in former lifters in the administration.
"I think there are few people who genuinely want the betterment of the sport. Moreover, the federation should rope in former lifters and there knowledge should be used."
Asked whether she would be interested to become an official of the national federation in future, she said, "Obviously, what I am today is due to this sport and I want to give back to the sport. But I am not trying on my own, if people want me to be at the high position in the federation I am willing to do it."
Also read: If I am guilty, shoot me in public, says Monika
Image: Indian athletes K.M. Beenamol (left), Karnam Malleswari (center) and Anjali Bhagwat pose for photographers in New Delhi on September 23, 2003.
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