Rio Olympics: Sonny Webster demands life bans from the Olympics for all weightlifting drug cheats – not just the Russians

SONNY WEBSTER says every drug-cheat weightlifter — not just Russians — should get life bans from the Olympics.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) barred all of Russia’s clean and jerkers from Rio on Friday, making it the second sport, after athletics, to ban an entire Russian team from the Games.

It follows evidence of Cold War style state-sponsored doping  in 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports  in the McLaren Report last week.

British 94kg champ Webster, 22, is one of just two Team GB weightlifters — the other, Rebekah Tiler, will contest the women’s 69kg division.

But he says seven  athletes in his category alone have had doping bans in the past and  should be kicked out of the Olympic family for good.

Speaking at Team GB’s  training camp in Belo Horizonte, Webster, 22, said: “If anyone tests  positive they should not  compete in the Olympics ever again.

“It’s an honour to call yourself an Olympian, to be here and   represent your country.

“I think I’ve got six or seven guys in my category that have previously tested positive.

“They are starting to catch  people now from the re-tests they have done after the Beijing and London Games, which is great.

“More than anything, I feel sorry for the guys who missed out on medals and the opportunity to hear the national anthem on the podium at previous Games.

“That is a very special moment to have taken away from you.”

Athletics’ governing body, the IAAF  booted Russia’s track and field team out of international competition last November and confirmed in June that the ban would not be lifted for Rio.

The IWF has now taken a  similar stance  in a bid to clean up a sport  long associated with doping — with Russia one of the worst offenders.