Russian lifter mysteriously pulls out of Olympics

London, Aug 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti):

Russian weightlifter Dmitry Klokov has withdrawn from the Olympics for unspecified medical reasons, the country’s sports minister said Saturday.

Klokov, a Beijing silver medallist, was expected to challenge for medals in Monday’s 105kg category.

Vitaly Mutko announced Saturday the 29-year-old athlete would not be able to compete, but did not disclose the reason other than to say it was a medical issue.

Klokov is the second Russian lifter to pull out of the competition.

The gold medal favourite in the same category Khadzhimurat Akkaev, the world and European champion, withdrew after failing to recover from an operation on his back, the national weightlifting federation told R-Sport earlier.