Delhi HC allows weightlifter Monika Devi to participate in championship

The Delhi High Court Thursday allowed woman weightlifter L. Monika Devi to participate in Nation Senior Women Weightlifting Championship 2014, scheduled to be held in Nagpur from March 28.

Justice Manmohan, however, said that her participation in the sporting event would be subject to outcome of the dope test result. She had given samples for the doping test Wednesday.

Monika Devi moved the high court after she was disqualified from participating in the championship only on the grounds that she had missed one anti dope test.

Filing the petition through advocate Pukhrambam Ramesh Kumar, she submitted that she had missed the test in compelling circumstances because of bereavement in her family and this was immediately intimated to the authorities concerned.

It was submitted that her request to reschedule the test anytime was also not considered by the authorities. "Even under the NADA's (National Anti Doping Agency) anti-doping rules, missing a test with compelling reasons does not constitute a doping violation," the plea said.

The plea said that to ensure participation in the Commonwealth Games 2014 and other International Events, Monika Devi must gain entry into the "Core Group" of athletes from which athletes will be selected for participation in it.

"And for entry in the 'Core Group', the present athlete has to participate in the ensuing Women Senior National Weightlifting Championships to be held from March 28 to April 1 at Nagpur. It is most respectfully submitted that till date there is no competition from any athlete to the petitioner in her particular weight category and she is hopeful to perform well in the said competition," the plea added.

The plea was filed against sports ministry, the Weightlifting Federation of India, the NADA, and the Indian Olympic Association.

Monika Devi has won many titles for the country in international events. She won a bronze medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at New Delhi and a Gold Medal in the Commonwealth Championships in 2011 and 2012 among others.