Iranians hit by 400,000 dollars fine

TEHRAN, Oct 2 (Reuters) Iran's weightlifters will miss more international events if a 400,000 dollar fine demanded by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for doping violations is not paid, Iranian state radio said today.

The IWF has suspended Iran's weightlifting federation for two years after nine of the 11 team members tested positive for unidentified drugs last month.

The country has had to withdraw from the world championships which started in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last week.

''If the fine is not paid, the lifting team will miss international games for two years,'' state radio reported.

National lifter Mohsen Davoudi, who tested positive in the past as well as last month, will be banned from international games permanently, the radio said.

The team's Bulgarian coach Georgy Ivanov, who was identified by the IWF as the main person responsible for the violations, has also been banned from coaching, it said.

Iranian world heavyweight champion Hossein Rezazadeh was not among the lifters who tested positive.

Reuters PDS GC2128