Lifter faces charge

 A PAPUA New Guinean weightlifter charged with sexual assault and detained and charged by police in Glasgow, Scotland,says he is innocent.

“It was an accident,” Toua Udia, said after lifting 125kg in the snatch and 163kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 288kg to finish ninth overall in a field of 25 at the Clyde Auditorium in the Commonwealth Games competition.

“I don’t want to spoil my reputation,” Udia was quoted as saying by Australian newspaper The Age yesterday.

Udia, who was allowed to compete in his 77kg division at the Commonwealth Games, on Sunday, said the incident, which involved another man at the toilet of a shop near the athletes’ village, was unintentional.

The 22-year-old from Hanuabada, Port Moresby, denied the allegation that led to him being detained by police and spending a night in a cell.

Scotland’s Sunday Mail newspaper reported that Udia was arrested only two days before the opening ceremony for allegedly molesting the man and had been held in custody overnight, before appearing at the Glasgow Sherriff Court last Tuesday.

He is due to appear in court on Friday (Saturday PNG time) after being released on bail and said he would plead his innocence.

The Team PNG management have not commented but are expected to make a statement on the matter today – nine days after the incident. 

For his part, Udia said he was glad he had been permitted to remain in the athletes’ village and to compete rather than be sent home. 

Udia finished second in Group B of the 77kg class, but the top-rated lifters in the division in Group A dominated the top placings, with eventual winner Indian Sathish Sivalingam totalling 328kg to take gold, while teammate  Ravi Katulu won silver with a 317kg total. Australian Francois Etoundi won the bronze medal with a 314kg total.

“I’m disappointed but you can’t repeat it. I wanted to pass the 300kg mark, which I have lifted before,” Udia said. 

“I’m happy I came second in the group.”