I mean this has probably been posted already but:

Lyu Xiaojun, a two-time Olympic champion weightlifter from China, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of his case.

Lyu, a 38-year-old who took gold at the London and Tokyo Games and silver in Rio, tested positive from an Oct. 30 sample, according to the International Testing Agency. Lyu can request a backup B sample be tested.

The lifter said in a statement that he was “greatly shocked” by the positive test, according to Xinhua News Agency.

“In my 24 years of weightlifting career, I have competed in numerous major events and have been tested hundreds of times, without any ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violations),” Lyu said, according to Xinhua. “I have neither any motive nor any reason to use any prohibited substance or prohibited method in the final phase of my beloved weightlifting career. I will cooperate with related organizations for investigation, to find out the real cause of this issue, and to prove my innocence.

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/...ban-china-epo/

I mean it was obvious he was on the stuff especially his current training for Colombia. Just never heard of the EPO drug before.

EPO is an odd one. It doesnt really help with performance. Erythropoetin simply gives you more red blood cells so you can perform longer in endurance events. It's usually the drug that marathon runners and cyclists (ex Lance Armstrong) abuse.

Kinda sucks though. He is the poster child of Olympic lifting....literally. I remember seeing his photos in my Kinesiology textbooks.

Intentional and gay

shocked

EPO has to be injected, so it's not like it accidentally got into his system. Also, it DOES help with weightlifting endurance for workouts, can help with recovery, and for older guys (i think he's like 30s or almost 40 by now?) it helps with energy levels because liver function starts to decline with age. MOST importantly, it offers even mild benefits but it is extremely difficult to test for. Has to be detected within hours of injection, like HGH. Very rarely do you find folks pop for EPO or HGH even though they are used by tons of athletes and this is because USADA would either need to be extremely lucky in timing or they would have to be tipped off, which is most likely what happened here and to TJ Dillashaw.

Politics.

Maybe he wants improved endurance?

Got popped for something else and this was what they reported to the media to save face srs

They're trying to break the Golden Bull