Talha may compete at South Asian Games

LAHORE: If 14th South Asian Games are hosted by Pakistan after January 24, 2025, then there is ample chance that the country’s leading weightlifter and Olympian Talha Talib will also return to the international circuit following a three-year ban due to doping which will expire on January 24, 2025.

Talha, who finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympics, may be drafted in the national camp one month before the expiry of his ban, as per WADA rules. The country sports think tanks plan to conduct the 14th South Asian Games in the last week of January 2025 or in the first week of February 2025, a narrow window which could be utilised due to the scheduled tri-nation cricket series and the ICC Champions Trophy which Pakistan will host in February and March.

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) communicated the same time-frame during their recent interaction with the South Asian nations which are likely to assemble in Pakistan in the last week of August to give finishing touches to the schedule and other related matters of the South Asian Games which Pakistan is going to host for the third time.

With Abu Bakar Ghani having already completed his two-year ban, Talha is about to complete his three-year ban. If he returns to the international circuit it will be of great value for the country.

Talha has been in consistent training since his suspension around two and a half years back for doping reasons. He intends to make a smart comeback. “I never left training and inshaAllah whenever I return I will lift ten kilogrammes more weight than I was lifting before suspension,” Talha told The News.

“It was a tough period for me which is going to expire. I missed the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and it was shocking as suddenly I had to face such situation after featuring constantly for six years in international circuit,” said Talha, who was banned for using 19-norandrosterone. However, there are several complications. Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) will only be able to field its weightlifters in international circuit when it pays a hefty penalty which it incurred due to doping reasons.

Although in rule it is the obligation of weightlifters who are banned to pay that penalty in the end it is the national federation which suffers if its weightlifters who are banned fail to pay the penalty.