Russian weightlifters Dmitry Lapikov and Khadzhimurat Akkayev have tested positive for banned drugs in the latest retests of samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the press service of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said on Aug. 24.
Both athletes have been provisionally suspended from competitions.
"In line with the relevant rules and regulations, the IWF imposed mandatory provisional suspensions upon the Athletes, who remain provisionally suspended in view of potential anti-doping rule violations until their cases are closed," the IWF said.
Lapikov and Akkayev are bronze medalists of the 2008 Olympic Games in the event 105kg and 94kg, respectively. Akkayev also won silver during the 2004 Olympics.
The list of 15 suspended athletes includes 11 medalists of the 2008 Olympic Games. Among them are Belarusian, Chinese, Kazakhstani and Azerbaijani athletes.
The IWF announced on July 29 its decision to ban the whole Russian weightlifting team from the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro over numerous cases of violating anti-doping rules.
Source: TASS