Bulgaria Withdraws Men & Women's Weighlifting Team From Beijing Olympics

Bulgaria is pulling off both their men and women's weightlifting team from this year Beijing Olympics after all the 11 athletes of Bulgaria were tested positive for an anabolic steroid substance. - Bulgaria's weightlifting federation announced Friday.

8 men and 3 women were tested positive for metandienon, a banned anabolic steroid. The tests were conducted on June 8 and 9 at Asenovgrad, Bulgaria.

"As a result, the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation took a decision to withdraw its national weightlifting teams -- men and women -- from participation in the Olympics," the statement added.

Among these athletes was Ivan Stoitsov, 77-kilogram category 2007 world champion. The 2004 Olympics bronze medalist in the 105-kilo class, Velichko Cholakov, was also among the compromised athletes.