THE world champion Russian weightlifter Alexei Petrov - favourite to take gold at the Atlanta Olympics - has tested positive for anaholic steroids. International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) general secretary, Tamas Ajan said yesterday that Petrov's A sample from November's world championships in China was tested in the IWF's Cologne laboratory.

It revealed traces of anabolic steroids and, if the second test proves positive, Petrov faces an immediate life ban. "We have notified the Russian federation of the positive result of the A sample and are awaiting a request from Moscow to test sample B," said Ajan.

Petrov swept to a triple gold medal triumph in the men's 91kg category at the world championships in Guangzhou. Petrov won the category for the second consecutive year, taking the snatch at 185kgs and the clean and jerk at 225kgs.