The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Saturday vowed to crack the whip on repeat dope-offender India, saying that strong action will be taken against the country for a series of dope flunks by its lifters last month.
The IWF, whose executive board continued its meeting for the fourth day in Goyang City, Korea, on Saturday issued a statement indicating that considering India's dope-tainted past, the country is unlikely to be handed any lenient punishment.
"The IWF executive board today discussed the issue of the several Indian positive doping cases, regarding the fact that India has repeatedly produced multiple cases in recent years," a statement from the world body said.
"On the other hand, however, the cases are still in process. The Executive Board shall take a very strong action against the Indian Federation, once all the cases are closed. Such actions will be made public upon the closure of the last case," it added.
IWF's tough stand would surely be a cause of concern for the Indian Olympic Association, which is hoping for a lenient view by the world body so that the country can field its weightlifters in next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.