Fearing enmity, Chanu wants CCTV at NIS

NEW DELHI: After the 2015 doping controversy when positive tests of two Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship medal winners prompted Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to mention the possibility of sabotage, one of India’s ace lifters has urged the sports ministry to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at key areas of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.

The NIS will be host the final phase of Asian Games preparations and the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in women’s 48kg category, Mirabai Chanu, as well as the chief national coach, Vijay Sharma, want the ministry to take steps to deter rivals from spiking and contaminating competitors’ drinks at the venue.

Three years back, Pramila Krisani and Minati Sethi had tested positive. Though the IWF didn’t rule out sabotage, the International weightlifting body, that conducted the tests, sus- pended the two for four years.

Mirabai is among the top lifters training at the national camp for Asian Games. Incidentally, the Manipur lifter is the only one to have sent in the request, fearing personal enmity.

The other six female lifers aren’t aware of the development. “The national coach and Chanu have apprised the federation and it is being discussed with the government. It has also been agreed in principle to install the monitoring system as early as possible,” said Sahdev Yadav, the IWF sec- retary.patiala is the hub of sporting activities and hosts national camps in several disciplines. However, it will be the first time a request for CCTV has been made. A senior official of the NIS, however, said he isn’t aware of the request.

In 2016, wrestler Narsingh Yadav failed an out of competition dope test while training at the SAI centre in Sonepat (Haryana). It cost him a berth at the Rio Olympics. Yadav, who is serving a four-year ban, alleged that his rivals spiked his drinks.