Free from doping charges, Sanjita Chanu hopeful of getting Arjuna Award

Her title cleared of doping expenses, two-time Commonwealth Games champion Sanjita Chanu is hoping to obtain the popularity she deserves, beginning with the distinguished Arjuna Award which has eluded her.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), on the advice of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) dropped the doping cost towards Chanu after greater than two-and-a-half years of investigation, making the 26-year-old eligible to use for the distinguished Award.

“I applied for Arjuna first in 2016 but I was not given it then. I was ignored again in 2017 despite having the points,” Chanu informed PTI from Manipur. “But then because of this dope case I was ineligible. I am going to try and get it now.”

Chanu, who received gold on the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games in 48kg and 53kg respectively, has been making an attempt for the distinguished Award for the previous 4 years. After she was ignored for a second time in 2017, she filed a written petition earlier than the Delhi HC, difficult the choice of the Awards Committee to exclude her title from nomination.

The High Court in its order had directed the Awards Committee to contemplate Chanu for the Arjuna Award and hold its resolution in a sealed cowl to be disclosed provided that she is absolved of the doping expenses which occurred on June 8.

Chanu, 26, had utilized for the award final month as her provisional suspension was revoked and IWF had allowed her to compete in tournaments. However, since her case was not closed, the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) knowledgeable her that she was ineligible for the sports activities awards, which can’t be given to dope-tainted athletes. But on Wednesday, the IWLF wrote to the sports activities ministry to adjust to the High Court order.

“I have always performed well and have two medals in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and in Gold Coast without doping. I am lifting for 11-12 years. I don’t know why I have been ignored for this award till now,” Chanu added.

The deadline for submitting functions for the nationwide sports activities awards has additionally been prolonged until June 22 by the sports activities ministry. Chanu, who holds the CWG snatch document within the 53kg weight class, is pleased after being exonerated of the doping expenses that after pushed her to the brink of quitting the game, however the weightlifter says the ultimate verdict feels bitter-sweet as she’s nonetheless struggling to search out closure.

“I am very happy. I was waiting for this day for so many years. But the result is also sad as my life has changed completely. It has been ruined because of this case,” she mentioned.

After demanding solutions and explanations for over a 12 months and a half since her provisional ban was lifted final 12 months in January, on Tuesday evening, Chanu obtained an electronic mail from IWF simply stating the case was “closed” and the “IWF has decided to withdraw the charges.”

“They should give a proper response. Instead they have just written two lines. I have suffered so much because of this. This cannot end it like this. You put an athlete under suspension for years without a final judgement, and one fine day you send an email saying that you are now free from charges?” Chanu mentioned.

“I cannot explain what I have gone through, to be kept in uncertainty for so long. I was so disheartened that I thought I’d just leave the sport because what happened to me was so incredibly unfair.”

In a case that was marred with discrepancies at each stage, Chanu is now demanding an apology and compensation from the IWF for inflicting her psychological trauma.

“Obviously an apology won’t take away my suffering. But I want an explanation because there is still no clarity about my case. I will file case against the IWF to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),” she mentioned.