SAI suspends Satheesha Rai's coach

The Sports Authority of India has suspended the coach of weightlifter Satheesha Rai, who was stripped of his three medals after failing a dope test at the recent Commonwealth Games in Manchester, a Sports Authority of India official informed in Bangalore on Saturday.

The official said it was decided to suspend coach Mani Lal after a preliminary inquiry.

Rai won two gold and a bronze medal at the Games but was disqualified and stripped of his medals for testing positive for 'strychnine', a prohibited substance under the International Olympic Committee's class of stimulants.

The official declined to say whether any notice has been served on Mani Lal or a further inquiry is being conducted.

Following Rai's disqualification, which was confirmed by the Commonwealth Games Federation on Thursday, India slipped to fourth position behind Canada with a haul of 30 gold medals.

Rai was the second Indian lifter to fail the dope test after Krishnan Madasamy had tested positive for the banned substance 'nandrolone' at the Games.