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Shewdas should pay federation’s fine
By Edison Jefford
Disgraced Guyanese Powerlifter, Gumendra Shewdas should hand over the monies he collected under false pretence after winning a gold medal at the World Championships to help pay fines he incurred on the local federation following his suspension for doping.
Shewdas had won a gold medal in the 53kg class at the World Junior and Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas in August last year. However, an in-competition test confirmed the presence of Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine in his system.
Both substances are prohibited performance enhancement drugs, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that had facilitated the test of Shewdas’s urine sample at its accredited lab in Cologne, Germany.
Gumendra Shewdas
As a result of the adverse drug discovery, the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) banned Shewdas for two years, commencing October 21, 2013, and fined Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) Euro $2000 as a consequence of their international rules.
GAPF President, Peter Green has since pleaded with the IPF for more time to pay the fine, which was granted. However, it remains unclear whether, or not, Green also lobbied Shewdas to pay for what the IPF called “costs relating to the adjudication of the doping violation”.
Following his return, The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) awarded Shewdas $500,000; Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) at Springlands also presented him with a cheque while The Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) hosted him at a special dinner where more gifts followed as a result of his achievement – his achievement was annulled since it is now in the open that banned substances influenced that performance.
Shewdas should be made to understand the consequences of his actions in the strongest possible means. Shewdas’s inconsideration has left an already cash-strapped federation in a quandary that will result in local
Peter Green
powerlifters being unable to compete overseas this year.
Green’s lobbying of the IPF Executive for more time for the GAPF to pay the fine is tantamount to letting Shewdas go with a slap on the wrist for such a serious offense. Further, his stance, thus far, is an underestimation of the severity of the offense in sport.
Shewdas is the first high-profiled and international case for Guyana in the fight against doping in sport, thus Green is peculiarly placed in a position to vindicate the GAPF and by extension, most local athletes from the scrutiny of having access to illegal substances.
When the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) filed doping charges against renowned former cyclist, the now disgraced seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong in 2012, the International Cycling Union did not only ratify USADA’s decision, but Armstrong was also stripped of the seven titles and asked to repay prize monies won while doping.
There are many other examples that can be cited to show how seriously countries and governing sport associations respond to doping issues. Shewdas cheated, and thus the response from Green ought to be nothing short of stern, rather than mundane, which we have seen with his comments on the matter to-date.
In addition to the monetary gifts Shewdas received, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport had responded first with a gala luncheon at New Thriving Restaurant; we await the response from the Ministry in light of this new development, which has embarrassed Guyana.
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