New Delhi: Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken Wednesday took exception to dope-tainted athletes training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat and said they were not funded by the government. Terming it "serious", he promised to inquire into the matter.

"No government funding was provided to these athletes during their suspension period and if they are training at Sonepat, it is a serious matter. We will inquire and let you know at the earliest," Maken told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the website 'Opex London 2012' to monitor the athletes' training and funding.

There is hope for dope-tainted quartermilers -- Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose, Tiana Mary Thomas and Priyanka Panwar -- to run at the London Olympics as the Anti Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP) upheld the one-year sanction imposed on them, making them eligible for the 2012 London Olympic trials. (IANS)