Satheesha Rai

Satheesha Rai (born 27 August 1971) is an Indian weightlifter and Olympian from Mangalore, Karnataka. He is also a recipient of the Arjuna Award given in 1999. He won a gold medal and two silver medals in the 1998 Commonwealth Games.{{cite web|title=COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALLISTS - WEIGHTLIFTING|url=http://www.commonwealthweightlifting.com/history/docs/past%20winners.pdf|publisher=www.commonwealthweightlifting.com|access-date=17 September 2010}}{{cite web|title=India in Commonwealth Games|url=http://cwg.ndtv.com/india-history.aspx|publisher=NDTV}} He also won two gold medals and a bronze medal in 2002 Commonwealth Games but the medal he won in 2002 was stripped because he tested positive for intaking a banned substance. Rai pleaded innocence and stated, "I have participated in over 16 International events including the Olympics and the World championships the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games besides a host of Asian Weightlifting championships and SAF Games. And in all these Games too tests are mandatory and I have come through clean. Also just before the teams left for Manchester, Sports Authority of India (SAI) conducted tests thrice and unless it's negative we are informed,{{cite web |title=I am innocent, says Satheesha Rai |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/08/09/stories/2002080900502000.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021031230037/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/08/09/stories/2002080900502000.htm |archive-date=31 October 2002 |work=The Hindu}} but was subsequently served a life ban.{{cite news |title=Satheesha Rai handed life ban |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_satheesha-rai-handed-life-ban_1195276 |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927222417/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_satheesha-rai-handed-life-ban_1195276 |url-status=dead }}