Lusofonia Games 2014: Sumit Malik stripped of gold as AFI makes a goof-up

The gold medal is, for the moment, out of reach of Indian athlete Sumit Malik

The gold medal is, for the moment, out of reach of Indian athlete Sumit Malik

This is a goof-up of epic proportions. India’s athlete Sumit Malik, who had been given a provisional suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for violating anti-doping rules, decided to remain numb about that and participated anyway in the Lusofonia Games 2014 400 metres race on Friday at the Bambolim stadium, winning the gold medal. He has now been stripped of the medal as the news of his suspension has come to light.

Malik was suspended from January 7 as per the anti-doping rules, but the athlete decided to take part in the games keeping the organising committee in the dark.

“As per the anti-doping rules the athlete should have refrained from taking part in this competition. As the athlete has taken part in the Lusofonia Games 2014 keeping the organizing committee in the dark about the above mentioned fact, the Committee has decided to strip his medal,” a press statement issued on Tuesday by the LUGOC, the organizers of the Lusofonia Games, said.

But what has been both puzzling and disappointing is the way the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has handled the situation. The AFI failed to notify the LUGOC about the athlete’s status, which allowed Malik to take part in the competition and emerge as the gold medal winner, in the process causing embarrassment to himself, the LUGOC and the AFI.

“Only AFI medical delegate Arun Mendiratta has the right to open the confidential letter (containing the information about the suspension) and with him away at the Games and later abroad, the envelope could have remained sealed,” CK Valson, secretary of AFI told TOI.

“We don’t say we haven’t made a mistake,” he added.

Paresh Kamat, secretary of the Goa Athletics Association, claimed that there was no way they could have known about Malik’s provisional suspension.

“We are still unaware of what is happening as the LUGOC has not officially communicated with us. I have got the news from some of the media persons but I cannot comment on this matter until we receive an official statement. We had a list from the Athletic Federation of India on athletes that were banned relating to anti-doping, but Sumit Malik’s name is not in it. If the media has been issued a press release then why has the GAA not received any confirmation,” Kamat said.

Malik was unavailable for comment but reports indicate that the athlete will be absolved if his blood sample turns out negative for the drug test. For now though, the medals table will be adjusted by the organizers and Malik’s name will be removed from it.

It has been a comedy of errors, with none of the organizations involved claiming responsibility for the goof-up, and in the process Malik’s name has both been undeservedly glorified and sullied.

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Edited by Staff Editor