Bulgarian weightlifter Milen Dobrev will be unable to defend his title at
this summer's Beijing Olympics after failing to recover from a waist injury, the
Bulgarian weightlifting federation said yesterday.
The 27-year-old Dobrev won gold four years ago in the 94-kg category at the
Athens Games.
"He's still suffering from the injury and it will prevent him from achieving
his full potential in Beijing," federation general secretary Tenyo Tenev told
reporters.
"That's why we decided that it'll be better not to force him," he said. "He
will resume his preparations for next year's European and world championship
after recovering from the injury."
