CAS: Bulgarian Weightlifters Remain Banned from 2016 Rio Olympics

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the Bulgarian Weighlifters Federation (BWF) appeal of a 2016 Rio Olympics ban imposed on the country's athletes over positive doping cases.

"The BWF remains banned from entering the next edition of the Olympic Games," the Lausanne-based top court for sports said in a statement.

However, the fine of USD 500,000 imposed on the BWF was set aside as the sole arbitrator appointed to decide the case found that the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Tamas Ajan had no powers to take such decision alone, according to the statement.

"It is for the Executive Board to rule on the issue of the fine," CAS said.

Eight men and three women Bulgarian athletes, who were preparing for the April 9-18 European championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, had tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid banned for use in competitions by many international sport bodies.