Weightlifter Cholakov withdraws from Olympics

LONDON (AP) - Velichko Cholakov of Azerbaijan has withdrawn from the super heavyweight weightlifting competition at the London Olympics.

Cholakov failed to show up for the weigh-in Tuesday. No reason was given.

Cholakov won a bronze medal for Bulgaria at the 2004 Olympics. He was barred from competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after testing positive for steroids. He later changed nationalities.

The International Weightlifting Federation says his four-year doping ban expired Monday.