MERSIN, Turkey (AP) — Turkish state-run TRT Television station says eight of the country’s weightlifters are out of the Mediterranean Games after failing doping tests at a training camp.
The lifters face bans from six months to two years for testing positive for the unidentified banned substances. Turkish weightlifting federation head Tamer Taspinar says three of the eight were expected to win a medal in what is his nation’s strongest sport at the games.
The doping cases are the latest setback for Turkey, which is hoping to use the games to show it has the capabilities to host the 2020 Olympics and win the bid ahead of Tokyo and Madrid. On Thursday, the opening ceremony was marred by anti-government protests.
