Mirabai Chanu from Manipur has ended India’s over two-decade wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics; after she won a silver medal at Tokyo Olympics she buried the ghosts of Rio Games as she became the first athlete from India to win a medal on the opening day of the Games. The whole nation is proud of her but maybe she deserves more, as Mirabai still stands a chance of converting her silver to gold.
The 26-year-old weightlifter bagged a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category; behind her legendary triumph is a story of everyday hustle and sheer hard work but as Anti-doping agencies are questioning samples of Chinese athletes she still stands a chance to get her well-deserved gold medal. Her journey began at the tender age of 12, by lifting firewood in nearby forests. She used bamboo trunks as barbells for her training. Her determined practice, despite a lack of equipment and opportunities, and her motivation to never give up pushed her into a thriving weightlifting career that enabled her to support her family. Mirabai enters the record books as India won a medal on the first day of the Olympic Games for the first time, which is a history in making.
While Chinese athlete Zhihui finished on the top step of the podium and Mirabai took the silver, questions were raised regarding Hou’s performance, as anti-doping agencies have now demanded to test her sample. News agency Digital ANI has confirmed the reports about Hou’s samples have been sent for testing. Even though it’s very common for Olympic medalists to undergo doping tests, Zhihui’s case involves adverse analytical findings, there will be more tests to figure out if there is anything adverse in the first sample.
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), An Adverse Analytical Finding indicates the presence of prohibited substances or methods in the tested sample. But before it is proven, the Adverse Analytical Findings should not be confused with adjudicated or sanctioned Anti-Doping Rules Violations (ADRV).
If Hou’s reports are clean, the situation will remain the same. But, if the Chinese weightlifter is found guilty in her blood reports, her medal would be forfeited, and Mirabai Chanu would be given the Gold medal.
Tokyo Olympics: Weightlifter Hou to be tested by anti-doping authorities, silver medallist Chanu stands chance to get medal upgrade
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/6dn9GPlA2e#OlympicGames #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/dxJqZpxlux
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 26, 2021
Why is the Chinese gold medal winning athlete who beat Chanu is being tested for dope 2 days later? There is a message in the Indian group in the village that says she is being tested and to watch out what happens. Members of the indian delegation not saying much! #TokyoOlympics
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 26, 2021
It doesn’t come as a surprise as China has a history of indulging in such scandals. The 2017 Beijing Olympics exposed a huge scandal when more than eight Chinese athletes were found guilty of doping, including three weightlifters: Cao Li, Chen Xiexia and Liu Chunhong. The Court of Arbitration for Sport imposed a one-year ban on the Chinese Weightlifting Federation in 2017 itself, and their Olympic medals were also withdrawn.
Now, time will justify whether Hou Zhihui has also become a part of this ‘Chinese Scammers Club’ or not but as of now we can only be sure and proud of one thing, Mirabai Chanu not only made history at the Tokyo Olympics but honestly earned her medal based on hard work, passion and dedication. Mirabai Chanu still stands chance to get gold if the Chinese weightlifter fails the dope test but yet she is the real gold and pride of our country.