The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has released a statement banning both Thai and Malaysian weightlifters from the Tokyo Olympics due to a high number of doping cases.
The statement said that lifters from both countries would not be allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympics regardless of when it eventually takes place.
The Thai Federation had been hopeful that they could compete in the rescheduled Olympics if they cleaned up their act. However, the announcement will come as a bitter blow and seems to have ended any hopes they had.
The IWF has also fined the Thailand Amateur Weightlifting Federation (TAWA) $200,000 USD (6.6 million THB) which already imposed a self-inflicted ban upon itself due to its poor doping record.
Eight Thai weightlifters tested positive for banned substances at the World Championships last year. In 2011, seven teenage girls also tested positive when randomly tested.
The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation has also been suspended for one year due to similar breaches of anti-doping rules.
Both federations have 21 days to appeal the decision.
Source: Reuters
