The International Olympic Committee has formally excluded Albanian weightlifter Hysen Pulaku from the London Olympics after he failed a doping test.

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The IOC said Saturday that Pulaku tested positive for a banned steroid, stanozolol, on July 23. It said a backup 'B' sample confirmed the result.

The announcement came a day after Albania dropped the 19-year-old from its weightlifting team over doping suspicions. He was supposed to have competed in the 77-kilogram category.

Two Turkish lifters were also dropped by their federation at the last minute after failing doping tests.

The weightlifting competition begins Saturday with the women's 48-kilogram category.