India athletes 'fail doping test'

Weightlifting in India has been dogged by scandal

India's weightlifting federation is facing an international suspension after at least five athletes have failed doping tests, it has emerged.

The weightlifters failed out-of-competition drug tests conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) last month, Indian media report.

The news comes as India's weightlifters prepare for the Commonwealth Championships in Malaysia this week.

It is the latest in a series of doping scandals involving Indian lifters.

The entire Indian team was barred from competing at the 2006 Asian Games after four of its athletes tested positive within a 12-month period.

India's only weightlifter at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was withdrawn over an alleged drugs offence, although that case is now the subject of a court hearing.