Seema's dope-tainted past could shatter her Khel Ratna hopes

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 15

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has recommended the name of Incheon Games gold medallist Seema Punia for this year’s coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award but the Haryana discus thrower might have to pay dearly for AFI’s ignorance of rules while sending her application to the Sports Ministry.

Seema’s dope-tainted past could severely affect her chances of getting the highest sporting honour when the Awards Committee will meet next month.

According to the rules for sports awards, any person with a dope tainted past cannot be given the Khel Ratna or the Arjuna award. The recent example of triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary, who was denied the Arjuna in 2013 after he was found to have used a ‘scheduled’ substance (ephedrine) back in 2008, is one such case.

According to a top Ministry official, Seema’s application would itself stand rejected based on this rule.

“I have not seen her application but the Awards Committee might probably reject her case. We will see when her application will come up for the discussion,” the official told The Tribune.

Seema, a silver medalist in the Glasgow CWG, sent her representation to the AFI for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award last month based on her current achievements and the performance of past three years. Seema’s fetched India’s first gold in athletics in the Asian Games with a throw of 61.03 metres.

A top AFI official said,“I have no idea about the recommendations. There is a separate Awards Committee of the AFI, chaired by head coach Bahadur Singh, you ask him.”

When The Tribune contacted Singh, he said that Seema is one of the leading athletes of the country and deserves the honour.”

Seema had other story to tell. “I was never banned for that offence in 2000. I was just a teenager when that incident happened and was warned by the AFI not to repeat such mistake in the future. I was cleared of the doping charge in 2006. So, the question does not arises. I am also considering applying for Padma Award this year,” said the athlete.

As per the prevailing rules in force in 2000, the AFI issued her a public warning after stripping her of the medal. But, it was her absence from the 2006 Asian Games that raised quite a few

eyebrows.

She had tested positive for a steroid (stanozolol) prior to the Games but was cleared to participate by the AFI.

She, however, opted out of the Games for some unknown reasons. The rules clearly disqualify any dope-tainted athlete from getting the coveted national awards. According to a NADA official, “It’s a negative thing

for sure.”