International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has imposed lifetime bans on two Indian weightlifters, Shailaja Pujari and Vicky Butta, 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, while four other weightlifters have been banned for four years to take part in any event due to doping charges.

Pujari, gold medallist in 75 kg category in 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, is found positive in the doping test which were conducted in September last year by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

Indian weightlifting official Sahdev Yadav admitted that IWF has imposed life term ban on Pujari and Butta and both have been fined 5000 dollars each for failing into the dope tests. Mr Sahdev added that four other weightlifters are banned for four years with a fine of 5000 dollars each.

Harbhajan Singh (Delhi), Rajesh Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Sunita Rani (Punjab) and A Vijayadevi (Jharkhand) are the other four weightlifters who have been banned for four years.

It is a major set-back for India as now none of these players will be able to play in the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi this year. Indian weightlifters had also missed the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 after a 12 months ban on the Indian federation.