Athens: Indian weightlifter Pratima Kumari, who did not take part in her scheduled 63 kg event yesterday (Aug 18, 2004) has tested positive for a banned substance.

Pratima is one of the five weightlifters who has been suspended after failing a pre-Olympic drug test, an International Olympic Committee statement said in Athens today (Aug 19, 2004).

Wafa Ammouri of Morocco, Viktor Chislean of Moldova, Sule Shabaz of Turkey and Zoltan Kecskes of Hungary are the other lifters who have been suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation, it said.