Australian weightlifter refused test, says drug agency

.c The Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) – The Australian Weightlifting Federation said
Wednesday it will investigate reports from the Australian Sports Drug
Agency that an unidentified lifter had refused to take a drug test.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to hear the case next
week, weightlifting officials said. Australia’s Olympic weightlifting
team is due to be named on Friday.

“There is an incident that is causing us some concern which is being
looked at right now,” said federation president Sam Coffa, who would
only identify the athlete as being a federation member.

The average penalty for such an offense is a two-year ban.

Coffa said that once the investigation is complete, the findings would
be made public.

“Innuendoes and rumors have a life of their own and they develop
legs. Somebody will say something and somebody will say something
else, and I believe it’s unhealthy,” Coffa said.

Caroline Pileggi and Armenian-born Sergo Chakhoyan are expected to be
named as the only two weightlifters on the Australian team.

Pileggi, lifting in the over-75 kilogram class, is expected to be the
sole Australian women’s representative.

Chakhoyan, who is in the 85-kilogram class, was handed a two-year
suspension in 2001 for using steroids.

In June, Australian weightlifter Anthony Martin received a two-year
ban for testing positive to banned substances. Commonwealth Games
bronze medal winner Seen Lee will appeal a two-year ban for testing
positive in May to the diuretic furosemide.

07/07/04 05:41 EDT

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress