Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, 17, and Bui Dinh Sang, 18, have been suspended for four years, starting from January 27, 2020 to January 26, 2024, according to the IWF.

Both were positive for oxandrolone, a substance that can help promote weight gain, following their out-of-competition tests carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Thu Trang won the IWF Youth World Championships gold medal at 45kg last year and still holds the title as the 2020 event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Dinh Sang clinched a bronze in the 61kg weight category at the 2019 Youth World Championships.

In 2019 two other Vietnamese weightlifters, Trinh Van Vinh and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thanh, were also banned from international competitions due to doping violations.

According to the IWF regulations, any nation with three or more doping violations during the Olympic qualifying period, which began in November 2018, is liable to lose quota places or be suspended outright.

Currently, three Vietnamese weightlifters, Thach Kim Tuan (male - 61kg), Hoang Thi Duyen (female – 59kg), and Vuong Thi Huyen (female – 49kg) are eligible for Tokyo Olympics 2020 competition. VOV