Report: Coach has life ban lifted

Sydney -- An international arbitration court lifted the life-time ban against weightlifter Sevdalin "Sevi" Marinov, dealing a blow to Australia's anti-doping watchdog.

The Bulgarian-born Marinov, once dubbed the "pocket Hercules" because of his lack of height, was found guilty in June of possessing banned steroids and testosterone by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, The Age reported in its Saturday edition.

The ruling by the international Court of Arbitration for Sport paves the way for the Marinov to return to coaching, but he recently told the newspaper he fears his Australian career was over "because my reputation and my image have been ruined."

Marinov won a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.

The Australian Weightlifting Federation said Marinov would be welcome to apply for any coaching job though there are no current vacancies, The Age reported.

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Copyright 2007 by United Press International.