Iran's double Olympic gold medallist Hossein Rezazadeh on Wednesday pulled out of the 2008 Games because he was not in good enough shape to defend his title, a weightlifting official said.
‘Mr Rezazadeh had eight months of heavy training while having stomach problems,’ Iranian weightlifting federation public relations, Mohammd Abdollahi told AFP.
‘His age (30) also was part of the decision so he listened to the medical commission advice and said enough was enough.
‘Another reason was that despite his training he did not achieve his desired record,’ Abdollahi said.
According to the Iranian official the younger Rashid Sharifi has been training as a backup for Rezazadeh - nicknamed 'the Iranian Hercules' - Abdollahi did not give any information about Sharifi.
Weighing more than 161 kilos (355 pounds), Rezazadeh holds world records in snatch (213 kilos), clean & jerk (263 kilos) and total (472 kilos).
Rezazadeh missed last year's world championships in Thailand after sustaining injuries in a car crash.
Rezazadeh is known for always as part of his lifting routine invoking the name of Abolfazl, the half-brother of Hussain, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson and third Imam of Shia Islam.
He also has the inscription of ‘Ya Abolfazl’ printed across his vest in competition - something that has on occasion provoked the ire of sporting authorities keen to keep all slogans off kit.
