Summary Chinese weightlifter Deng Wei won Olympic gold in the women's 63kg category.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Chinese weightlifter Deng Wei won Olympic gold in the women s 63kg category with a world record Tuesday after Taiwanese rival Lin Tzu-chi pulled out amid reports of a failed dope test.
Deng hoisted a combined total of 262 kg in Rio on Tuesday, breaking the record held by Lin, who was a surprise late withdrawal from the competition.
"I didn t know she wasn t participating until the very beginning of the competition. I was surprised not to see her," Deng said afterwards.
"I haven t heard anything about reports of her failing a dope test. I feel really bad for her and I hope to meet her in future Games," she added.
Deng scored a 115 in the snatch before sensationally grabbing first place with a world record clean and jerk of 147 kg which saw her smash Lin s total record by 1 kg.
Lin had set the record when she won gold at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and was favourite going into Tuesday s event at the Summer Olympics.
However, when the final entry sheet was published she was a surprise omission.
Olympic officials were unable to immediately confirm reports that she had failed a doping test.
The China Post reported that Lin had tested positive for a banned substance just hours before the start of the contest, citing officials at Taiwan s Olympic committee.
Lin s sample had shown an "abnormal reaction", the report said.
North Korea s Choe Hyo-Sim grabbed silver with 248 kg, a massive 14kg behind Deng, while Karina Goricheva of Kazakhstan took bronze on 243.
