Relieved after getting an official pardon from the Delhi High Court,doubles specialist Jwala Gutta thanked everyone who supported her and blasted the Badminton Association of India for trying to ‘victimize’ her. Blaming even
chief coach Pullela Gopichand for ‘not supporting her’ in her hour of need,Jwala said she tried to resolve the
issue by talking to everyone in the administration even before the show cause notice was issued. “When I learnt that I was being made the scapegoat, I talked to Gopi and BAI President. Gopi said he could not do anything. The president was in no mood to listen to me. In fact,they went to the media even before serving me the notice,” said Jwala.
“I was shocked when my name was drawn unnecessarily into the controversy.
I did not understand why I was being blamed when I only acted on the instructions of my team (Delhi Smashers) and as a captain I was only talking on behalf of my teammates. “Why such a harsh action? I did not dope, I did no match-fixing, I didn’t kill anybody, I don’t know what this life ban is for,” she added. Jwala warned her detractors in her now inimitable style. “I love to play and bring honour to my country. No one on this earth can stop me from playing. In fact,no one should stop anyone from playing.I never thought that they would stoop down to this level.”