Lithuanian weightlifters lose slot at London Olympics

"Unfortunately, Lithuania does not have a slot at the Olympics," Adamfi said. "It was reported after the European championship that Lithuania won one Olympic slot. But achieved Olympic slots do not come into force until all results of doping tests are received. It does not necessarily mean that the country's athletes used doping. But after receiving the test results we have to recalculate everything. After we did it, Lithuania lost the slot at the Olympics," he said.

Adamfi said he could not confirm or deny the fact that a Lithuanian athlete failed an anti-doping test until the case was closed. Theoretically Lithuania might have lost the slot after an athlete from another country failed an anti-doping test and that led to a mix-up in the Olympic selection points system.

But doping is the most realistic reason why Lithuania lost its slot, and the darkest shadows hangs over Didžbalis, the Lietuvos Rytas speculates.

Didžbalis, 21, won silver at the European championships in Turkey earlier this year. Donatas Anuškevičius, Marius Mickevičius, Žygimantas Stanulis and Vyšniauskas also competed.

When the official reasons will be announced is still unknown.

"It will depend on the investigation procedure," Adamfi said. "The case has many stages, I hope we'll be able to explain everything soon. But theoretically, if a detailed hearing takes place involving the athlete's questioning, it may take a month or longer," he added, adding that the Lithuanian Weightlifting Federation had been informed of the incident.

Meanwhile President of the Lithuanian Weightlifting Federation, Audrius Siaurusevičius, says he knows nothing about it.

"It's the first time I hear of it," he said, adding that the call should be referred to the federation's vice-president and coach of the national team, Bronislovas Vyšniauskas. The latter was not available for comment.

Bronislovas Vyšniauskas told the Lietuvos Rytas last weekend that his son and Didžbalis would compete in a tournament in Poland on 9 July and it would determine who would go to London. He, however, should have known by then already that Lithuania had no slot at the London Olympics as the IWF issued the official list of 84 countries sending weightlifters to London, and Lithuania was not on the list.

Vyšniauskas had been given a two-year doping ban in 1997 after testing positive following the world championships in Thailand. His father, also acting as his coach, said his son fell victim to competition.