Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 23 (Reporter Liu Yang, Wang Meng) China Weightlifting Association announced on the 23rd that the international inspection agency (ITA) recently informed the Olympic champion of weightlifting Lü Xiaojun that its sample test results were positive for banned substances, he has been temporarily banned since December 20.
ITA was commissioned by the International Weightlifting Federation to carry out a stimulant test. The agency announced on its official website that it was found to be positive in the case of an out-of-competition test on October 30, 2022 Lü Xiaojun. According to the relevant provisions of the International Federation’s anti-doping rules, the International Federation now implements a temporary ban on Lü Xiaojun. The ban period starts from December 20, 2022until the case is closed.
The 38-year-old Lü Xiaojun still has the right to apply for the test of bottle B to confirm the test results of bottle A, and the Lü Xiaojun also has the right to submit written explanations and supporting documents related to the positive test results. The international inspection agency said that Lü Xiaojun was allowed to provide further information or clarify.
Lü Xiaojun declare a screenshot.
On Lü Xiaojun, he issued a personal statement saying that he had always strictly abided by the International Weightlifting Federation, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the anti-doping agency of China.
Lü Xiaojun said that in his 24-year weightlifting career, “he has experienced numerous competitions and received hundreds of doping tests, and there is no violation”. Since its resumption in August 2022, Lü Xiaojun has received a total of 8 stimulant tests in 4 months. He specifically pointed out: “I have won almost all the honors cleanly, and I have neither motivation nor reason to use any banned substances in the last leg of my beloved weightlifting career. I will cooperate with relevant agencies to conduct an investigation to find out the real cause of the problem and make myself innocent.”
Statement of China Weightlifting Association.
China Weightlifting Association also issued a statement on the same day, saying: “China Weightlifting Association is deeply shocked by the news that Lü Xiaojun samples of weightlifting athletes in China are positive for banned substances. China Weightlifting Association pursues the goal of “zero appearance” with the attitude of “zero tolerance” in anti-doping work. We have implemented the most stringent anti-doping education and management for Chinese weightlifters, and Chinese weightlifters have received the highest frequency of doping tests in the world.”
According to the data provided by the China Association for publicity, since 2017, Chinese weightlifters has received more than 5,000 internal and external doping tests, and there has been no violation. China Association for Promotion said, “we reiterate once again: we will maintain the cleanness and purity of weightlifting as always; Athletes use stimulants, which seriously violates sports ethics and Olympic spirit, harm sports and the physical and mental health of athletes, and never tolerate and tolerate them.”
China Association for Promotion also said that it took note of the statement made by Lü Xiaojun and believed that the international inspection agency and the International Weightlifting Federation would find out the facts and make true verdict. While severely cracking down on the violations of stimulants, it will also protect the legal rights of clean athletes.
Lü Xiaojun won the 81kg class champion of the Tokyo Olympic Games at the age of 37, thus becoming the oldest weightlifting Olympic champion when winning the championship. He was also the men’s 77kg champion at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. After a year’s rest, Lü Xiaojun returned to training in August this year, preparing to return to the stadium and re-compete in the Paris Olympics.
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