In a stunning move, “The Turkish Weightlifting Federation has collectively resigned in the wake of a doping scandal, Chairman Hasan Akkuş announced Jan. 25,” according to a report by the Hurrieuyet Daily News.


Taner Sagir (Turkey) on his way to winning the gold medal in the 77-kg category of weightlifting at the 2004 Olympics.  IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen photo.


“Five Turkish athletes tested positive for doping during the European Under-23 Championships in Israel.

“This is hard to take for us,” Akkuş told Anatolia news agency. “If doping is here, then we are not. We decided on a collective resignation.”

The Turkish Weightlifting Federation came under scrutiny after Turkey finished the 2012 London Olympic Games without a medal in weightlifting, which is usually deemed one of Turkey’s strengths in the Olympics,” continued the story.

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