Azeri weightlifters banned from Rio OlympicsJune 23, 2016 - 14:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) deprived Azerbaijan oftwo Olympic berths in the 2016 Rio Games, local media report. A decision to punish the federations, involved in the recent doping scandals was passed during an IWF session in Tbilisi. Azerbaijan has lost two berths as its athletes were repeatedly caught using doping during qualification tournaments for 2016 Olympic Games. So far, 20 weightlifting cases have been found among the 55 positives in retesting of samples from all sports which the International Olympic Committee has reported, including 32 from Beijing and 23 from London. Four Olympic gold medalists from Kazakhstan and medalists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have already been provisionally suspended by the IWF. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |