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Two Qatar weightlifters withdraw from the Olympics

From Sports Illustrated • SI Images: Photos from the Games • Brian Cazeneuve: Hall past past • Tim Layden: Mo and O can go • Grant Wahl: Put him in coach • Alex Wolff: Maldivian swimmer delivers a most important message • Phil Taylor: Water polo -- Now that's toughness • John Walters: Show some heart • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Day at a Glance: Not so fast • Viewers' Guide: What to watch for • CNNSI.com's Michael Lewis: Soccer -- Men still making strides with fans • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day in sports • Quiz: Today's Tester Athletes • 10 Questions: Cathy Freeman • Head Games: Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Ato Bolden • Just Checking In: U.S. sprinter John Capel • Just Checking In: Water polo player Chris Humbert • Athlete Bios: U.S. Rosters Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Getting on track • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

SYDNEY, Sept 22 (AFP) - Two Bulgarian-born weightlifters representing Qatar at the Olympic Games have withdrawn from the competition citing health reasons, tournament officials said Friday.

Salelem Nayef Badr formerly Petar Tanev, and Sulyan Abbas Nader, formerly Andrey Ivanov, pulled out from Friday's men's 77kg category final complaining of a "virus," weightlifting officials said.

Nayef, a five time gold medallist at the world championships, had been tipped as one of the favourites for the crown.

Both men were among a squad of Bulgarian lifters who reportedly switched allegiances to Qatar for a one million dollar fee.

They had been training for the Olympics with the Bulgarian team which on Friday was banned for 12 months and kicked out of the Games after three of their weightlifters failed dope tests.

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