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Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: Weightlifter Ghasiram Khara, who had won three silver medals at the Sub Junior Weightlifting Championship in February this year, on Sunday alleged conspiracy behind the dope tests which pushed his career into uncertainty.
Denying allegations of use of any steroids to boost up his energy levels during the championship, Khara urged a high-level inquiry to probe the matter as he has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000.
"Neither do I know about any stamina booster nor had I eaten anything. I won three silver medals at Vishakhapatnam only due to the training I had received,. The incident has mentally disturbed me and I am no longer interested in sports," said Khara while requesting the State government for a detailed probe into the matter to bring the real culprits to book.
Berhampur stadium in-charge and weightlifting coach Sachindra Majhi also see some foul play in the entire incident.
"I think the coaches and managers, who had accompanied the weightlifting teams, were unskilled and inexperienced due to which such things happened," said Majhi.
The Nation Weightlifting Association (NWA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Khara for using banned substances.
"Khara was found positive in the first doping test. Now, the NWA has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on him as he was found positive in second test too. I have received intimation in this regard from the association," said secretary of Odisha Weighlifting Association (OWA), Narayan Sahu.
On Khara's possibility of returning to weightlifting again, Sahu said, "If the coach who trained him for the February championship submits an undertaking stating that he trained Khara for 100 days prior to the championship, he (Khara) can participate in national championship, else he will not be allowed."
Khara had come to Berhampur from Koraput two years ago with the dream to win medals and bring laurels to his State and country. Though the recent developments have shattered the hopes of Khara, he is trying to overcome the setback by concentrating on studies with a hope of getting justice soon.
