Vijender to be punished if found guilty: Sports minister

New Delhi - Sports minister Jitendra Singh Monday said Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer Vijender Singh would be punished for his role in a drug scandal in Punjab, if found guilty.

“At this point of time, the Punjab Police is investigating the matter. When a conclusion is reached and somebody is implicated or chargesheeted, we will definitely take action,” Singh told reporters outside parliament.

“The guilty will be punished but that is a matter for the Punjab Police. Investigation is being done by them,” he added.

Punjab Police recently recovered 26 kg heroin, worth Rs.130 crore in the international market, from drug smuggler Anoop Singh Kahlon, during a raid in Zirakpur in Mohali.

Kahlon had said that Vijender and his sparring partner Ram Singh were his “clients”. Ram was suspended from the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala after his involvement came to light.

A three-member committee of coaches also searched Ram Singh’s hostel room but did not find anything objectionable.

Ram Singh and Vijender are very close friends and were roommates at NIS for nearly six years. Vijender, who was India’s first boxer to win a medal in the Olympics when he won bronze in the Beijing Games, had allegedly promoted Ram Singh in various platforms by using his influence.

Vijender though denied all allegations and said that he would fully cooperate with the police in the ongoing investigation.

“I have nothing to do with drugs. I am ready to join investigations at any point of time and am also ready to undergo any kind of dope test,” Vijender said.