With Monika Devi caught in the doping net hours before boarding the Beijing flight, IWF Selection Committee Chairman B Venkataramiah feels P Shailaja had a chance if the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the IOA could propose her name as the replacement for the Olympic Games.
"Shailaja
has a chance but I think the IWF is in very embarrassing position at the moment," Venkataramaih to PTI.
"I have spoken to IWF General Secretary (B R Gulati) to propose her name to the International Weightlifting Federation At least now they should do justice to Shailaja," he said.
India's lone representation in weightlifting, Monika was selected ahead of Shailaja in the IWF trial last month despite the latter emerging to be a better performer.
But the Manipuri girl was pulled out of the Indian squad for Olympic Games on Tuesday night for testing positive for an anabolic salt in a dope test conducted by the Sports Authority of India on June 29.
Venkataramaih, also the General Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Association, said there was a provision for replacement in case of accident or injury to the selected candidate but "I don't know what would be their decision in this case".
"The last date of submitting names to the International Federation was July 29 which has been surpassed and it is up to the Indian Olympic Association to see if Shailaja's name could be sent now," he said.
Asked if Monika was clear during the trials in Bangalore, he said "I am not sure but it have learnt that she tested positive after she reached Delhi from the trials," he said.