TIRANA, Jan. 22 -- The European Weightlifting Federation announced Monday its decision to revoke Albania's right to host the European Weightlifting Championship scheduled for this year, the federation said in a statement.
Such decision comes at a time when Albania's weightlifting has been hit by a new doping scandal involving the Albanian weightlifting champion Romela Begaj.
Begaj, who last December became Albania's first world champion in women's weightlifting, failed a doping test, provisionally suspending her from the sport and stripping her of the medals she won at the late 2017 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) world championships in the United States.
Although Begaj has denied accusations, this is the second doping scandal in the past three years, damaging the reputation of one of Albania's traditionally best performing sports on the international stage.
Following such results, the steering committee of the Albanian Weightlifting Federation resigned on Jan. 19.
Its president, Elez Gjoka, resigned too, following public pressure and blame laid on the federation for the ongoing doping scandals.
As a result, the European Weightlifting Federation said in its press release that it had started negotiating with several member countries to decide on a new host country, noting that its main priority was to organize the competition on time.
The competition is scheduled for March 26 to April 1.
体坛英语资讯:Iniesta may skip Spanish Cup with back sprain
体坛英语资讯:South American Championship under-20 final begins
体坛英语资讯:Japanese baseball technicians to train Cubans
体坛英语资讯:Inter Milan up to 3rd in Serie A following Bari win
体坛英语资讯:AC Milan slows down charge on title after being held by Lazio
体坛英语资讯:Barcelona expand advantage as Real Madrid lose
体坛英语资讯:Evra to stay at Old Trafford until 2014
体坛英语资讯:Cologne shocks Bayern at German Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:AC Milan to sign Juventus defender
体坛英语资讯:Error against Espanyol will end league title, says Reals defender
体坛英语资讯:U.S. Olympic swimming champion Peirsol retires
体坛英语资讯:AC Milan sign Legrottaglie from Juventus
体坛英语资讯:Federer, Djokovic Headline Dubai Tennis Masters
体坛英语资讯:Canada eyes two wins in Cricket World Cup: captain
体坛英语资讯:Santos humble Sao Paulo 2-0
体坛英语资讯:Italian soccer needs revamp, says World Cup winner
体坛英语资讯:Chelsea set to sign Liverpools Torres
体坛英语资讯:Japan defeats South Korea in ice hockey preliminary at Asian Winter Games
体坛英语资讯:Kong Xue wins first gold for China at Universiade
体坛英语资讯:Soderling through, Ferrer out of Rotterdam ATP
体坛英语资讯:Garnett, Gasol, Nowitzki make NBA All-Star team
体坛英语资讯:Zarates ban reduced
体坛英语资讯:Milito out for four weeks due to thigh injury
体坛英语资讯:Rotterdam ATP director frustrated with Djokovics pullout
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid lose to fall seven points behind Barcelona
体坛英语资讯:Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics construction chief resigns
体坛英语资讯:AC Milan signs left-back from Espanyol
体坛英语资讯:Zambian boxer Unifies WIBA and WIBO light welterweight titles
体坛英语资讯:AC Milan stumble as Napoli, Inter catch up
体坛英语资讯:Mourinho: My future doesnt depend on results