The Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) and Manipur Weightlifting Association (MWA) in a joint statement said Monika had been selected by the Indian Olympic Association on the recommendation of Indian Weightlifting Federation to take part in the Beijing Olympic games.

It said Monika was to leave on Tuesday but to her great surprise she was informed that she was tested positive in a dope test and was not allowed to proceed to Beijing.

The statement said that the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) gave the information to her just 30 minutes before the departure of the flight.

The move was ‘premeditated’ by a group of IWF led by its General Secretary B R Gulati, it said.

The state sports body said a section of IWF wanted to send P Shailaja, another lifter, in place of Monika.