Uma Bharti questions
dope testing procedure

Amidst reports of another weightlifter testing positive at the Commonwealth Games, India expressed doubts about the procedure being adopted for random dope tests, saying its sports persons "could have been targetted specifically".

Sports Minister Uma Bharti, on Monday, acknowledged that doping is a matter of great shame for the country, but at the same time did not rule out the possibility of India being singled out and discriminated against.

"I will go into the root of the matter myself. I have asked for a complete report on the random tests that were carried out during the Games, the procedures adopted, and will see if there is any discrimination," Bharti told reporters in Delhi.

The minister said she expects to come out with her findings in a week's time.

On Krishnan Madasamy testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug, she said, "We will wait for the result of the B sample. If it is negative it will be proved that there is politics everywhere and if it is positive, we will take stringent action. The concerned federation will be held accountable."

Windfall in store for medal winners

Meanwhile, a windfall is in store for India's medal winners, with the government announcing a five-time increase in cash rewards.

The announcement means every gold medal winner at the Commonwealth Games will now get Rs two million instead of the Rs 400,000 announced earlier. Similarly silver medallists will get Rs 1.5 million and bronze medallists Rs one million.

Jaspal Rana, who grabbed four gold, a silver and a bronze, will thus rake in cash in the excess of ten million.

Fellow-shooter Anjali Bhagwat, who bagged four gold medals, will earn Rs eight million while three weightlifters will get Rs six million each for their triple gold-medal feats.

"It is our way of rewarding the sports persons who have done India proud by toppling the powerhouses and bringing in an unprecedented medal haul," Bharti said, while announcing the cash incentives.

She said her ministry has all the support of the Finance Ministry. "The precedent has been set. From now on this trend will continue."

Specially appreciative of the women's hockey team's gold-winning feat, Bharti said, "We have decided to increase the cash reward substantially but the modalities are being worked out. I will speak to each of the team members and see what all can be done for them in the form of promotions and long term benefits."