Monday, September 18, 2000
News Online

Ban on Romanians lifted

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has rescinded a ban placed on four Romanian weightlifters competing at the Sydney Olympics.

The lifters were part of a seven-member team which was expelled yesterday because three of their number had failed drugs tests. Under IWF rules, a country is automatically banned from competition if three or more athletes test positive in a calendar year.

Romania appealed and were given the option of paying a $US50,000 (almost £36,000) fine to have their four clean lifters - three men and one woman - reinstated.

Earlier today, Norwegian weightlifter Stian Grimseth was expelled from the Olympics after testing positive for banned drugs. Seven other athletes from Canada, Taiwan, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan were kicked off their Olympic teams after positive dope tests before the Games got under way.