Korean weightlifter tests positive for banned substance

This photo shows Korean junior weightlifter Kwon Dae-hee during the National Sports Festival in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, provided by the Korea Weightlifting Federation, Oct. 14. Yonhap

Korean teen weightlifter Kwon Dae-hee has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.

The International Testing Agency (ITA), which handles an independent anti-doping program for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), announced this week that it had notified Kwon of "an adverse analytical finding for trimetazidine" and had provisionally banned him in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IWF Anti-Doping Rules.

The ITA said it found trimetazidine in Kwon's sample collected in an out-of-competition test on Feb. 26 this year.

Trimetazidine is on the 2025 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. It helps prevent heart-related conditions by increasing blood flow to the heart and may increase endurance during physical activity. It also came to public attention when Iga Swiatek, former world No. 1 in women's tennis and five-time Grand Slam winner, tested positive for that substance last summer.

The ITA said Kwon has the right to request the analysis of his B-sample and also to challenge his provisional suspension.

"If the B-sample analysis is requested and confirms the result of the A-sample, the case will be considered to be a confirmed anti-doping rule violation," the ITA said in a statement. "If the B-sample analysis is not requested, the case will also go ahead as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation. The athlete will have the opportunity to present his explanations for the result.

Kwon, 19, won the 2024 world junior title in the men's 81-kilogram event. He also owns the Korean national records in the 81-kilogram and 89-kilogram categories.

In light of the ITA decision, the Korea Weightlifting Federation removed Kwon from its national team training squad.