He is how ever not alone to be suspended for four years in the sport of weightlifting. In total 55 weightlifters has been suspended for four years. IWF has used long sanctions for years Before the new rules, the International Weightlifting Federation suspended any athlete who had violated an anti-doping rule for four years. A CAS-decision forced IWF to reduce the sanctions for two years. With the new World Anti-Doping Code, IWF is back to it\'s normal four year suspension regime. Still Weightlifting is the sport with the third most cases in dopinglist.com. We have registered 898 athletes banned in this sport. Athletics tops the statistics with 1808 cases, while cycling is in second place with 936. Welcomes longer sanction UKAD’s Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead said: \"I welcome UKAD’s first four year sanction under the 2015 WADA Code; it sends a clear message that intentional doping will not be tolerated and that those who do decide to cheat will now face tougher sanctions when they are caught. \"These tougher sanctions will not only protect clean sport in the UK by removing cheating athletes from the system for longer, but will also act as a greater deterrent to those who are, or are considering, cheating.” Intentional doping In the code which came into force this year it states in article 10.2.1 that: The period of Ineligibility shall be four years where: The anti-doping rule violation does not involve a Specified Substance, unless the athlete or other Person can establish that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional. (10.2.1.1) The anti-doping rule violation involves a Specified Substance and the anti-doping organization can establish that the anti-doping rule violation was intentional. (10.2.1.2) If Article 10.2.1 does not apply, the period of Ineligibility shall be two years.