The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), facing strong action from the international body for a spate of dope cases recently, is paying the price for its "lenient" attitude towards drug cheats, feels India's first Olympic medallist in the sport Karnam Malleswari.
Malleswari, who won a bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said the current state of affairs in weightlifting is saddening with the federation facing the prospect of a third international ban after six lifters flunked dope tests in September.
"I feel sad when I see that after putting in 18 to 20 years to bring the sport up, it is in such a bad state. I'm really very concerned about what decision the International Weightlifting Federation might take for the recent dope cases," Malleswari said.
"Had the federation been strict on lifters who were dope-tainted, things could have been different today. We wouldn't have been facing such a humiliating situation," she added.
Malleswari said youngsters will now have to pay the price for the Federation's follies if the IWF decides to ban India. "Lifters who had been banned in the past for doping were included in the team time and again. The federation's lenient attitude towards them will now affect the careers of our junior lifters who did so well at the Commonwealth Championships recently," she said.
"If the federation is banned, it will dent India's medal hopes at the Delhi Commonwealth Games next year because our lifters fetch most of the medals for the country," Malleswari explained.
"I just hope that there is no ban but given our past record, the IWF may hand out a very tough punishment," she added.
Malleswari also lambasted dope-tainted lifters for the current mess, saying those using banned substances don't just put their individual careers at stake but also bring a bad name to the country.
"I don't know why senior lifters do such things despite being well aware of the repercussions. At every national camp, the coaches explain it clearly that doping would destroy their careers.
"But I guess, the federation's lax attitude makes them feel that they can get away with it. But they forget that the country's name is also at stake," she said.
Malleswari said the senior lifters have to take more responsibility to keep the sport dope-free. "You have to punish the drug cheats, that's the only way to keep the sport dope-free. That would set a good example for the youngsters," she said.
