UIT blow to Irina

12/09/1998

THE International Shooting Federation (UIT) are taking disciplinary action
against Irina Maharani and this means Malaysia's golden medal hope cannot
take part in the Commonwealth Games in Langkawi.
A Malaysian since three months ago, former Ukrainian Irina is facing
action because she did not get clearance from UIT when she competed in the
World Championships in Barcelona in July.
The National Sports Council (NSC) hired Irina, a 1986 world champion in
the sport pistol, to help prepare the Malaysian shooting squad for the
Commonwealth Games.
She raised Malaysian hopes when she finished ninth in Barcelona, the
best finisher from the Commonwealth countries.
But the necessary paperwork had not been done.
The Malaysian authorities - the National Sports Council (NSC), who
decided to enter her for Barcelona, and the National Shooting Association
of Malaysia (NSAM) - failed to get clearance from UIT.
Irina, who was born in Ukraine, represented the former Soviet Union. She
had also represented the Soviet Republics of Ukraine and Russia.
UIT regulations require that a shooter must be a citizen for three years
before she can represent the country. Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
regulations require a three-year residential status.
Another way around the UIT regulation was for her former shooting
federation to give her the release to shoot for Malaysia.
But NSC did not think that it was necessary to obtain the release from
Ukraine and Russia - the USSR have since ceased to exist - to shoot in
Barcelona.
Apparently they had not sought the advice of NSAM and neither did NSAM
see it fit to advise NSC accordingly.
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) vice-chairman Datuk Alex Lee said
yesterday that Malaysia have been advised by UIT to keep her out pending
disciplinary action.
"The CGF sought clarification from UIT and they told us both she and the
Malaysian Shooting Federation (NSAM) face possible disciplinary action.
"Both contravened UIT regulations when they failed to get clearance to
field her in the world championships."
The letter from UIT, signed by Fung Lok Nam, their technical delegate,
was sent to CGF legal advisor Sharad Rao.
With Irina ruled out, and Nurul Huda Bahrin still on the mend after
fracturing her right arm in two places, Malaysia's chances of winning a
shooting medal look remote.
Nurul, who fractured her arm in a motorcycle accident last month, was
originally down to shoot in three events - air rifle, sport rifle three
position and sport rifle prone. She is now only entered for the air rifle.
(END)