Two Turkish weightlifters out of Olympics after drug tests
Two weightlifters have been kicked out of Turkey's Olympic squad on suspicion of doping offences, the Anatolia news agency reported in Istanbul on Thursday.
Two weightlifters have been kicked out of Turkey's Olympic squad on suspicion of doping offences, the Anatolia news agency reported in Istanbul on Thursday.
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Turkey Weightlifting Federation (THF) president Hasan Akkus confirmed that weightlifters Fatih Baydar and Ibrahim Arat had been expelled after failing dope tests on July 7.
Baydar, 29, won a silver medal in the 85 kilogram category during the European Championships in Antalya, Turkey earlier this year. Arat, 23, finished fourth in the 94 kilo class at the same championships.
Weightlifting, which has been wracked by drugs controversies over the years, is one of Turkey's strongest sporting disciplines along with wrestling.
Turkey has won eight gold medals in previous editions of the Summer Games, with the legendary Naim Suleymanoglu et Halil Mutlu winning three each between 1988 and 2004.