Iranian boxer expelled

Olympic boxing has been hit by a positive drugs test

Iranian boxer Anosheravan Nourian has been named as the latest athlete to be thrown out of the Olympics for failing a drugs test.

The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) said the light-welterweight had tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition dope test.

"The full report has not been received and AIBA will have no further comment until the results are in hand," reported the federation.

According to the IOC, there are two athletes facing expulsion but neither was named.

"Overall there are nine problematic cases. Out of the nine, two of them are in the athletes' village," IOC director general Francois Carrard told a news conference.

Problematic samples

The competitors provided the problematic samples in random tests carried out by the new World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

These tests were carried out prior to the commencement of the Games.

Nourian had been due to fight Nigerian Olusegun Ajose on Wednesday with the winner fighting either Australian Henry Collins or American Ricardo Williams.

In other boxing news, East Timor's Victor Ramos' Olympic campaign lasted just two minutes and 23 seconds as he was completely outclassed by Ghanaian lightweight Raymond Narh.

Ramos took a standing eight count near the end of the first round and was stopped 23 seconds into the second.

Both Australia and the United States enjoyed successful outings in the ring on Sunday, with the Americans seeing their run extended to four wins in four fights.

Highly rated light flyweight world champion Brian Viloria beat Russian Serguei Kazakov 8-6 despite scoring just two points in the last two rounds as his opponent came back into the fight.

Tough opponent

Brian Viloria came through his opening bout

"We fought a really tough opponent right off the bat and it's good to get past a guy like this because he can come in and upset you," said head coach Tom Mustin.

Cuban Maikro Romero, the 1996 Olympic flyweight gold, showed just how difficult he will be to beat after registering a 15-1 victory over Venezuelan Luis Jose Varela.

David "Nine Lives" Jackson, called up to the U.S. squad as a replacement lightweight when the original qualifier quit for personal reasons, beat Tunisian Naoufel Ben Rabah 19-7.

Roared

And Australian fans roared their support as lightweight Michael Katsidis demolished Brazilian Agnaldo Magalhaes 15-6.

It was Australia's first win in the ring at the Games.

Mexican light-flyweight Liborio Romero pulled off a great win with three seconds remaining against Algerian Mebarek Soltani, whose uncle Hocine won gold in 1996.

Soltani had dominated the first two rounds but his inexperience showed when he let Romero recover and land the winning blow just when the bell was about to sound.

Soltani looked aghast when the points were revealed, sobbing into his hands as his coach led him away.