File image of Bozhidar Andreev© AFP
Olympic weightlifting bronze medallist Bozhidar Dimitrov Andreev was banned for four years on Friday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid, ruling him out of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 29-year-old Bulgarian tested positive for mesterolone last year and has been suspended until November 2029, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced. “Mesterolone is known for its potent androgenic properties by increasing testosterone levels and enhancing male sexual characteristics,” the ITA said in a statement. Andreev won bronze in the 73kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished fifth in the same event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
His Olympic bronze medal remains unaffected by the doping violation because the positive test occurred after the Paris Games.
Andreev has the right to appeal the sanction before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Bulgarian weightlifter enjoyed considerable success earlier in his career, winning gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and claiming the European title twice.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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