Russian weightlifters banned from Rio

“We would like to highlight the extremely shocking and disappointing statistics regarding the Russian weightlifters”, said a statement by IWF.

Russian weightlifters will not be permitted to compete at the Rio Olympics next month.

Russia’s five-times European champion Nataliya Zabolotnaya was among three silver medallists from the London Games to fail tests along with compatriots Alexandr Ivanov and Svetlana Tzarukaeva.

Four of the 11 are Russians, who all tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid.

Bulgarian weightlifters have been banned from the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Games because of the large number of positive doping tests, and now Russian weightlifters are also at risk of being banned.

Intigam Zairov of Azerbaijan and Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan, already suspended following retests of 2008 Beijing samples, were also on a list released by the IWF on Wednesday evening.

Weightlifting has long had problems with doping, though the federation has gradually toughened testing and sanctions.

Over 100 Russian athletes have so far been banned from the Games after the World Anti-Doping Agency uncovered an elaborate doping system directed by Russia’s sports ministry across more than 30 sports.

Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russian Federation are all still facing the possible sanction, along with Azerbaijan, who have already been ruled out of Rio 2016 after losing their quota places.

So far, weightlifters have produced a total of 31 positives in doping retests carried out on samples taken at the 2008 Games in Beijing and the London Games.

With Podobedova, Zabolotnaya and Kulesha having all tested positive in the women’s under 75kg event, Spain’s Lidia Valentín could be in line to claim gold, having initially finished fourth.