'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for the 77kg crown at the Asian Games but organisers announced a few minutes into the competition today that he had withdrawn.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."