Satheesha Rai stripped of
Commonwealth Games medals

The Commonwealth Games Federation on Thursday confirmed that Indian weightlifter Satheesha Rai has been disqualified and stripped of his medals for failing a dope test at the recent Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The Karnataka lifter, who claimed two gold medals and a bronze in the 77 kg category, tested positive for 'strychnine', a prohibited substance under the International Olympic Committee's class of stimulants.

Following Rai's disqualification, India slip behind Canada to fourth position on the medals table.

The Indians completed their engagements in Manchester with a record haul of 32 gold medals, one more than traditional powerhouse Canada. But with two gold medals taken away, they now go down to the fourth position with 30 gold.

Rai is the second Indian to fail a dope test at the Games. Weightlifter Krishnan Madasamy had tested positive for the banned 'nandrolone' and was promptly stripped of his three silver medals in the 62 kg category.

An initial interview was conducted with Rai and his representatives on August 4, the final day of the Games. He was subsequently invited to present any submissions he wanted to make to the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The ruling means that Dave Morgan of Wales will receive the gold medal in both the overall and the clean and jerk in the 77 kgs category.

In the clean and jerk competition, Renos Doweiya of Naora is upgraded to silver medal status and Scott McCarthy of Canada to bronze.

In the snatch, Damien Brown of Australia retains his gold medal and Morgan the silver, but Australia's Craig Blythman receives the bronze medal.

In the overall competition, Doweiya is now awarded the silver and McCarthy the bronze.

Sports Minister Uma Bharti had said that stringent punishement would be given to the two weightlifters if their B-samples also tested positive.

Indian shooters had done the bulk of the medal haul at the Games, claiming as many as 14 gold medals. The weightlifters' account has now been reduced to 11.

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