New Delhi, August 27 (PTI): Disgraced weightlifter Kunjarani Devi today sent an appeal to the International Weightlifting Federation requesting revocation of the six-month ban imposed on her.

In a letter sent tonight to the International Body, Kunjarani stated that the substance (strychnine) reportedly found in her urine sample is a stimulant and not a performance enhancing drug.

She also expressed her dissatisfaction with the procedure for testing her urine sample, according to Indian Weightlifting Federation sources.

Kunjarani's appeal is for revocation of the ban imposed on the basis of testing her �A� sample and not for the testing of the �B� sample.

Earlier in the day Kunjarani Devi denied taking any banned drug knowingly.

"I was shocked to hear the news.

In my 14-year career, I have been tested at random all over the world and never ever returned a positive test.

All I can say is that somebody is playing games against me," Kunjarani, who tested positive during tests carried out at the July 12-17 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Chenju (South Korea), said.

"I will consult my employers CRPF, my coach and mentor PK Mahanand and Sports Authority of India officials and will appeal to the Asian Weightlifting Federation to test my �B� sample," said a dejected Kunjarani, who has been directed by Asian Weightlifting Federation to return the gold medal she had won in the 48 kg category.

The AWF had told Indian Weightlifting Federation to ask Kunjarani to submit in writing before Wednesday if she wanted her �B� sample to be tested.

She could face a two year ban if the second sample also showed presence of the banned substance.

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award winner, however, admitted she had taken three cups of coffee containing caffeine, a mild stimulant and �Dispirin�.

Both caffeine and strychnine are stimulants and according to International Doping Rules, the amount of strychnine in a urine sample should not exceed 12 microgrammes per milliliter.

"A cup of Indian coffee contains 3 mgm/ml of caffeine which still, going by Kunjarani's account, should have kept the level of the drug below the stipulated limit.

And Dispirin does not contain any anabolic steroid," said Dr PSM Chandran, director of SATs medical unit.

"She may have taken five cups of coffee.

However, her case is strengthened by the fact that caffeine is a stimulant which does not help weightlifters in any way.

It helps reduce fatigue and is generally of use to long distance runners�.

"If she wanted she could have taken diuretic which helps weightlifters in building muscles and improving performance," Chandran told reporters.

Kunjarani also narrated to reporters another instance which she claimed might have affected the result.

"When I was returning with the sample in my hand, I banged into another weightlifter which resulted in the bottle slipping from my hands.

The sample got spilled and the bottle, in which I gave a fresh sample, could have got contaminated.

I had asked for a change of bottle but my request was rejected," she said.

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