Olympics: Weightlifter Sohrab Moradi wins Iran's second gold in Rio

Iran's Sohrab Moradi (centre), gold, Belarus' Vadzim Straltsou, silver, and Lithuania's Aurimas Didzbalis, bronze, pose during the podium ceremony of the men's weightlifting 94kg event. PHOTO: AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Iranian Sohrab Moradi topped the podium in the men's 94kg category on Saturday to claim Iran's second weightlifting gold medal of the Rio Games.

Moradi, who previously served a two-year ban after testing positive for methadone, dominated the event with a combined total of 403kg. Vadzim Straltsou of Belarus claimed silver on 395kg while Lithuania's Aurimas Didzbalis took bronze with 392kg.

The run-up to the competition had been overshadowed by a doping scandal after Polish brothers Adrian and Tomasz Zielinski were both withdrawn for failing drugs tests.

Adrian Zielinski, a 2012 Olympic champion, tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone just three days after his brother, European champion Tomasz, suffered the same fate, Poland's anti-doping committee said on Friday.

Both have denied any wrongdoing. The Zielinskis trained for the Olympics individually, outside the framework established by the Polish federation.

Kazakhstan's double Olympic champion Ilya Ilyin, who won 94kg gold at London and Beijing, had also been due to bid for a third consecutive title before receiving a ban in June. Ilyin, one of weightlifting's biggest stars, was caught after samples from London and Beijing were retested.

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