'We're clean' says weightlifting boss
A leading weightlifting official on Friday claimed the sport is clean from drugs, after the dramatic withdrawal of world champion Nader Sulyan Abbas, a Bulgarian representing Qatar, from the Asian Games.
Abbas's pull-out at the last moment was a repeat of his
sensational exit from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where he
was a gold medal contender. He withdrew on the eve of the
competition, complaining of a 'virus'.
His 'Bulgarian connection' immediately raised questions
about drugs as their team was kicked out of the Sydney Games
after three of their weightlifters failed dope tests.
Abbas, who lifted for Bulgaria as Andrey Ivanov, was one
of the favourites for the 77kg crown at the Asian Games but
organisers announced a few minutes into the competition today
that he had withdrawn.
Mohamad Yousef Al Mana, the president of the Asian
Weightlifting Federation and the Qatar Weightlifting
Federation, said that there was no question of weightlifters
from Qatar taking drugs to enhance their performance.
"Yes, Abbas used to lift for Bulgaria but whatever they
might use we are not using. In Sydney, it was their doctors'
fault (that the team was kicked out) -- they gave lifters some
medicine which they should not have," he said.
"We (the sport in Asia) are against anything that will
hurt weightlifting. The sport must be equal and fair for
everyone. It is easy to take some medicine and come here and
win a gold medal - it is difficult to train hard and come here
and win."