The strange cases in exposure of the Azerbaijani weight-athletes in dope deliver a blow to all Azerbaijani sport, the Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth of Azerbaijan Ismayl Ismaylov told Trend, commenting on the situation with the national collected team.
The Deputy Minister expressed his confidence that Nizami Pashayev (94 kg) and Natig Hasanov (85 kg) in whose bodies signs of forbidden preparation were revealed didn't make use of dope. For many years, the weight-lifters have been prepared over a single plan and haven't used any stimulative means. However, the World Anti-dope Agency included their names in its black list, and the problem isn't of concern for us, Ismaylov emphasized.
Double world and European champion N.Pashayev has been disqualified for two years, and the period of punishment will complete before Olympiad-2008.