Iraqi weightlifter Mohammed Jassim could be barred from the Beijing Olympics after he was found to have taken a banned drug.

Jassim was given a drugs test at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Japan at the end of April, the head of the Iraqi Weightlifting Federation Mohammad Salih Kadhum revealed.

"The results of these tests were received four days ago, on Monday, which showed that Jassim had taken prohibited drugs," he said.

Jassim was suffering from a knee injury and had treated it with injections of cortisone, a drug banned by the International Weightlifting Federation.

The Japanese organisers of the Asian championships sent a report to the Federation, which is expected to meet in mid-June in Colombia to take a final decision on Jassim.

"It is also expected that Jassim will be suspended from participation in the Beijing Games," Kadhum said.

He said Iraq may be able to nominate another weightlifter to replace Jassim in Beijing.

Jassim was "completely shocked" and depressed by the news, Kadhum added.

Neither the Federation nor Jassim could immediately be reached for comment.

The athlete previously said he had sharply cut back his training after the International Olympic Committee provisionally suspended the Iraqi National Olympic Committee because of government interference.

That decision puts the participation of any Iraqi athlete in the Beijing Games in doubt.

The IOC's move came after the Iraqi cabinet dismissed the committee and appointed an interim one chaired by the sports minister. The IOC plans to invite the Iraqi government for talks to seek a solution.

The Beiing Games open on August 8 and Iraq had planned to send a small team despite violence that has killed more than 100 athletes in the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Reuters