Albanian Pulaku becomes first doping cheat

LONDON - Albanian weightlifter Hysen Pulaku became the first athlete caught of doping at the London Olympics after failing a test for a banned steroid, officials said Saturday.

Pulaku tested positive for stanozolol in London on July 23, the International Olympic Committee said.

"The International Olympic Committee on Saturday announced that weightlifter Hysen Pulaku from Albania has been excluded from the Games of the 30th Olympiad in London," IOC said in a statement.

The 77kg-category athlete, 19, also becomes the 10th weightlifter caught doping at an Olympic Games since 2000.

Two Turkish weightlifters have also been kicked out of the London Games after failing pre-competition tests. European silver-medallist Fatih Baydar and Ibrahim Arat were expelled from Turkey's squad after failing dope tests on July 7.

About a dozen other athletes have also been barred in the lead-up to the Games for pre-competition doping offences.