Sanjita Chanu to get Arjuna award after being cleared of doping charges

Guwahati: Two-time Commonwealth games gold-winning weightlifter Sanjita Chanu, who was recently cleared of doping charges after a two-and-a-half year long battle, will get the Arjuna award for 2018.

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) Secretary Sahdev Yadav on Thursday said that he had informed Chanu about the development on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that Sanjita had moved the Delhi High Court after being 'denied' the Arjuna in 2017. Later, she was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance, but the Court directed Arjuna Award Selection Committee to consider the Manipur athlete's nomination irrespective of the charges.

After Chanu was exonerated of her charges, the Indian Weightlifting Federation wrote to the Sports Ministry about the Court's order, and after going through relevant documents, the Sports Ministry confirmed that Chanu would get the Arjuna.

Meanwhile, an elated Chanu has urged the Sports Authority of India to provide equipment for her training. She told media that since the grant was perhaps held up because of the doping charges against her. She has said that her training has been affected by the lockdown, and requested the SAI to provide her with equipment so that she can continue her training "smoothly".

Sanjita Chanu had won back-to-back gold medals in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 48kg and 53kg categories respectively.

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