Banned weightlifters named

The International Weightlifting Federation have named the five competitors who have been thrown out of the Olympics for positive drugs tests.

Morocco’s Wafa Ammouri, Moldova’s Viktor Chislean, Hungary’s Zolton Kecskes, Turkey’s Sahbaz Sule and Kumari Pratima of India have all been provisionally suspended following the findings of tests carried out by the IWF.

None of the lifters had competed, which is one positive sign for the IWF, whose presence at the Olympics was cast into doubt in Sydney four years ago when the entire Bulgarian squad was thrown out of the Games in Sydney after systematic drug abuse by its athletes was discovered.

The sport has done much to clean up its image since then, and all 260 athletes due to compete at the Olympics were tested before they arrived in Athens. Stringent tests will continue throughout the Games.

“These tests were done during the period of the Olympics but out of the event itself,” said IOC director of communications Giselle Davies.

“The five athletes concerned tested positive before they competed.”