Topic: News: Iran confirms Davoudi, Sharifi busted doping

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Iran confirms Davoudi, Sharifi busted doping

The head of Iran's anti-doping institution has confirmed the use of illegal drugs by weightlifters Mohsen Davoudi and Rashid Sharifi.

Davoudi claimed the gold medal in the +94kg category in the Asian Junior Championships and Sharifi won three gold medals in the +105kg Asian Championships.

Ramin Tabataba'i told ISNA news agency on Tuesday that Iran's Weightlifting Federation had informed the national anti-doping institution that Davoudi and Sharifi had both tested positive for doping.

Head of Iran's national weightlifting team Hossein Rezazadeh has so far declined to comment on the issue.

Sharifi initially denied taking any illegal substances but later said that without the knowledge of Rezazadeh he had taken painkillers for his knee injury before the Asian Championships.

The Iranian federation has protested against Davoudi's test results and said it is waiting for the results of Sharifi's second dope test.

However, ISNA also quoted a high-ranking official in the International Weightlifting Federation as saying that the IWF has confirmed both Davoudi and Sharifi's dope tests were positive.

If convicted of doping, they will be banned for two years from competing in international tournaments including the 2012 London Olympic Games.