Recent developments in the sports world could see China being barred from competing in the weightlifting divisions after three of its former Beijing Olympics 2008 gold medalists tested positive in a doping re-test and stripped off from their titles.

In a bid to root out doping, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had clarified that countries that had recorded three or more doping scandals following a re-test would not be allowed to compete in international events.

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China's Cao Lei (75kg category), Chen Xiexia (48kg category), and Liu Chunhong (69kg category) all tested positive of the banned GHRP-2 human growth hormone, according to South China Morning Post. The medal recall is a big embarrassment to China, which for the first time had topped the medal tally in their home ground, Beijing.

Given the number, China stands to miss out on the Asian Championship and World Championship set for April and November this year, respectively.

In the recent batch of re-tests carried out, eight athletes were also disqualified from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. Of the eight athletes, three were non-medalists.

Thus far, the IWF has blocked Russia and Bulgaria from competing at the Rio Games following tests that affirmed the presence of performance enhancers.

The Hindustan Times reported that the International Olympics Committee is holding on to samples from past sporting activities for up to the next decade as newer methods come up to help nab cheats.

As of Thursday, Russia had recorded the most doping scandals with over 100 offenders from the Beijing and London Olympics.

Weightlifting, wrestling, cycling, swimming, and athletics have so far been mainly affected by the re-tests.

Tagschina, 2008 beijing olympics, 2012 london olympics, Doping, IWC, IOC