Topic: News: NINE IRANIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS BUSTED FOR DOPING!!!

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Iran’s Star Lifter Makes Worlds Despite Doping Scandal

TEHERAN - Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh will be able to defend his world weightlifting title at next month’s championships despite the barring of the rest of the Iranian squad over a doping scandal, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.


The 28-year-old man mountain Rezazadeh was one of only two of the eleven-strong Iranian weightlifting squad to test negative for excess levels of testosterone.

After talks between the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and their Iranian counterparts “Rezazadeh can represent Iran in the world championships on his own,” Iranian weightlifting official Abdollah Felahatinejad said.

Iranian media reported that Rezazadeh had already left for the Dominican Republic, where the championships are due to start on September 30, but the double Olympic champion was downbeat over his chances.

“Since the problems evolved I have cut down on my training and my body has weakened and mentally I am not in good condition. I am not sure whether I will be able to win a medal or not,” he said.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Iran Lifter to Defend Title

TEHRAN: Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh will be able to defend his world weightlifting title at next month's championships despite the barring of the rest of the Iranian squad over a doping scandal, Iranian media reported yesterday.

The 28-year-old man mountain Rezazadeh was one of only two of the 11-strong Iranian weightlifting squad to test negative for excess levels of testosterone.

After talks between the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and their Iranian counterparts "Rezazadeh can represent Iran in the world championships on his own," Iranian weightlifting official Abdollah Felahatinejad said.

Iranian media reported that Rezazadeh had already left for the Dominican Republic.

The championships are due to start on September 30, but the double Olympic champion was downbeat over his chances.

"Since the problems evolved I have cut down on my training and my body has weakened and mentally I am not in good condition. I am not sure whether I will be able to win a medal or not," he said.

"But I hope that by winning a medal the current atmosphere in our weightlifting changes," added Rezazadeh, who holds all the world records in the 105+ kilogramme category.

Ever since he broke the world record in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Rezazadeh's picture has decorated billboards and buses in Iran and his reputation has even surpassed that of the world's top football scorer Ali Daei.

Iran's national weightlifting coach, Georgi Ivanov, a Bulgarian, was quoted as saying he was not aware "additives" in food supplements that he prescribed for the athletes were illegal.

[Myles Astor]

Jay Leno: “Nine Iranian weightlifters have failed drug tests and will not be allowed to compete in the world weightlifting championships. They had to return to Iran, go back to the old job of stirring giant vats of uranium.”  

[Jim Hooper]

So, since the "problems" arose and he tested negative, Rezazadeh is impelled to tell reporters that he has cut back on his training, is weaker, and does not expect to perform his best . . . no illness, injury, or lack of opportunity to train mentioned  . . . who, oh who, can puzzle out this mysterious change of circumstances . . . ???

To quote Elvis Costello, I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Nine Iran weightlifters Handed Two Year Doping Bans

TEHERAN - Nine Iranian weightlifters who tested positive for doping on the eve of the world championships have been banned for two years by the sport’s international federation, the state-run IRNA agency reported.

The ban does not affect Iran’s best known lifter, the 105+ kilogramme double Olympic champion and world record holder Hossein Rezazadeh, who was one of only two athletes on the 11-strong squad to test negative for excess levels of testosterone.

However the Iranian weightlifting federation was also slapped with a 400,000 dollar fine and the entire team will be disqualified for two years if this is not paid, the agency added.

Iran’s national weightlifting coach, Georgi Ivanov, a Bulgarian, has also been banned from all activity in weightlifting for life by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), according to IRNA.

Ivanov was quoted as saying at the time the scandal broke that he was not aware “additives” in food supplements that he prescribed for the athletes were illegal.

“I am happy as our other athletes can participate in other competitions but also sad as our innocent athletes were victims of an injustice,” said the head of Iranian weightlifting, Ali Moradi.

Rezazadeh is the only Iranian weightlifter to have travelled to the world championships in the Dominican Republic, where he will defend his world crown later in the week.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Just posting an article from the news:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/13/sports/ME_SPT_WGT_Iran_Resignation.php

Iranian weightlifting official resigns in wake of doping controversy
(AP) Nov 12, 2006
TEHRAN, Iran: An Iranian weightlifting official has resigned a month after nine of the country's weightlifters and the national team coach were banned following positive doping tests, the state-run news agency reported.

Iran's Weightlifting Federation accepted the resignation of the group's Secretary Abdullah Falahatinejad on Sunday after he offered to step down the day before, IRNA reported. The news agency did not explain why Falahatinejad quit.

The resignation comes days after Iran's Physical Education Organization fired Ali Moradi, the federation's president, IRNA said.

Eight Iranian weightlifters were suspended last month for two years and a ninth banned for life after testing positive for banned substances. The International Weightlifting Federation also imposed a lifetime ban on Iran's national weightlifting coach, Georgi Ivanov of Bulgaria.

Iran's weightlifting federation also was fined $400,000 (€310,950).

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Iran Pays Fine, Weightlifting Ban Lifted

Tehran, Nov 26: Iran said the International Weightlifting Federation has agreed to lift a doping-based ban on its athletes after the Islamic republic's federation agreed to pay a 400,000-dollar fine, the ISNA news agency reported on Sunday.

The ban was imposed after nine members of the Iranian national team tested positive for doping during their preparations for the 2006 international competitions in Dominican Republic.

The athletes, considered as backbone of Iran's national weightlifting team, were banned for two years from international competitions.

The deal was brokered in a meeting between the president of the International Weightlifting Federation Ajan Tamas, and the acting head of the Iranian Weightlifting Federation, Bahram Afsharzadeh, the report said.

"We have already paid 100,000 dollars (of the 400,000 dollars), and we will pay the rest in annual installments starting May 2007. But we hope to have it reduced in future," Afsharzadeh said.

Asked about any decrease in the two-year ban, he responded: "the only reply Tamas gave us was to be patient, but we hope that in future the ban will be shortened so that our athletes can take part in Beijing (summer) Olympics (2008)," he added.

Iran's weightlifting team will however take part in the Asian Games in Doha with Hossein Rezazadeh the 105+ kilogramme double Olympic champion and world record holder together with a lesser known teammate, who also tested negative for doping.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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IWF Close to Deal with Iran over Team's Weightlifting Ban

BUDAPEST, Hungary: The International Weightlifting Federation is set to lift a ban on Iran if the country pays a fine of US$400,000 (€305,000).

IWF spokeswoman Aniko Nemeth-Mora said Monday it was likely that Iran's weightlifters, led by two-time Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh, could compete at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, which start Friday.

However, the nine Iranian weightlifters banned for two years from international competition for doping offenses will not be allowed to compete.

"Athletes who have tested positive are banned no matter what," Nemeth-Mora said. "At the moment, suspensions are effective but the federation itself will be able to enter competitions."

Iran claims it has already paid US$100,000 of the fine imposed for the doping violations and will pay the rest in annual installments beginning in May 2007. Nemeth-Mora could not confirm this arrangement.

The World Anti-Doping Agency tested 11 Iranian weightlifters on Sept. 10 in advance of the world championships in the Dominican Republic. Nine tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone.

In October, eight of the nine weightlifters were suspended for two years and a ninth banned for life. The IWF also imposed a lifetime ban on Iran's national weightlifting coach, Georgi Ivanov of Bulgaria, and all Iranian weightlifters were banned until the payment of the fine.

Nemeth-Mora dismissed Iran's hopes that the two-year bans could be cut.

"They can hope, but suspensions are subject to the rule," she said.

Nemeth-Mora said IWF would also investigate Iran's responsibility in recent doping cases.

"After nine doping incidents, it is possible the cases aren't based on individual action," she said.

Iran's federation might be responsible, she said, adding it was IWF policy to investigate any country which had more than three doping cases.