Chinese weightlifter says cannot afford B test

BEIJING, June 7 (Reuters) Chinese weightlifter Zeng Ying, who faces a two-year ban after failing an out-of-competition dope test in April, says she cannot afford to have her B sample tested.

Zeng tested positive for the banned steroid Stanozolol but had passed up her right to have the control sample tested, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) said in a statement.

''The second test will cost 624.1 dollar and I can't afford it,'' the 19-year-old, who denies using any banned substances, told CRI radio.

''Besides, I heard that the results of A and B sample tests are always the same, so there is no point of asking for a second test.'' Zeng, silver medallist in the 58kg class at the 2005 university world cup, moved from to Hunan to Beijing in February and her coach in the Chinese capital, Yu Jinglong, has been suspended and faces a one-year ban.

''I became coach of the Beijing team only four months ago, so it is unlikely for me to ask Zeng to do something which would end her career as well as mine.'' Yu told CRI.

The Chinese weightlifting federation will decide what punishments should be handed out to Zeng and Yu.

China suffered frequent high-profile doping scandals on its rise to sporting superpower status over the last couple of decades but has promised to stamp it out before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

REUTERS AY HS1047