The IWF secretary B R Gulati has, however, dismissed the allegation as ‘rubbish and baseless’ and said he had never done such a thing right through his career as a sports adminstrator.

A top IWF official, speaking on condition of anonimity, alleged that Gulati has received Rs 5 lakh to select Pujari ahead of Monika Devi, who had actually booked the lone Olympic berth for India.

"The allegations are all rubbish and baseless. I totally deny these allegations. I want to reconfirm my integrity," Gulati said.

"In my couple of decades' association with sports administration, I have never done such kind of things," he said.

Monika, who fetched a silver and two bronze in 69 kg in Asian Championship in Japan in April-May to fetch the lone berth for India, and Shailaja were shortlisted for the final selection after a trial at Army Sports Institute in Pune on Monday.

As per the rule, though the berth is allotted to a country, the national federations usually prefer the quota winner to contest in the Olympics unless that player is unfit or unavailable for the event.

But the IWF decided to hold the trials to select who was in the best form to contest in Beijing and shortlisted Monika and Shailaja. Only one will be named to represent the country in the Olympics while the other would be named as reserve. The final selection will be done on July 15.

Defending the decision to hold a trial, Gulati said, "Only Monica didn't fetch us the Olympic berth. It was a team effort. The lone berth was according to the points secured by the team. We were placed fifth in the points table in the Asian Championship."

"No doubt, Monica's silver and two bronze had contributed much in India finishing fifth but other lifters also contributed to the team total," Gulati argued.

Gulati also finds himself under attack from IWF Vice President CBR Prasad, who alleged foul play in the selection trials in Pune.

"I protested at the knee cap which Shailaja was wearing during the trials. Her knee cap was above the joint more than what is allowed under rules which could help her in lifting more weight. I protested but Gulati held me by scruff of my neck and asked me to leave the trial room," Prasad said from Hyderabad.

Gulati, meanwhile, confirmed that he had asked Prasad to leave the area but did not elaborate on it, saying it did not concern the media.

"One fellow CBR Prasad, who was newly nominated vice president by the Federation President (Harbhajan Singh) had become too regional and he had something to protest about the selection trial," he said.

"I said since the commandant of the institute was there so we should behave well. He didn't behave like a gentleman and so I had to say sorry there is process for selection and you have to leave the premises," Gulati said.

Prasad also claimed that the decision to hold the selection trial was not taken by the IWF Executive Committee and Monika Devi should have been ‘normally’ selected for Beijing Olympics.

"I don't know who took the decision (to hold the trial). I was not given any information about that. The other Executive Committee members do not know it either. Because of Monika we got an Olympic berth, she should have been sent under normal circumstances.