Hoang Anh Tuan (front, R) is welcomed by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet after returning from the 2008 Olympic with a silver medal.

Weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan and weightlifting head coach Do Dinh Khang have disputed a report in a local sports newspaper that Tuan had been duped into doping during his training in Bulgaria.

The weightlifting section and Tuan’s coach had to provide reports on the training process and the athlete’s activities in Bulgaria on a regular basis, Thang said.

“Hence, there are no grounds to justify Tuan had been doping during his overseas training prior to the 2008 Olympic Games.”

In 2008, Tuan’s doping tests - including the check after he won the Olympic silver medal – all returned negative.

Thang said he had requested the High Achievement Sports and Weightlifting sections to submit a report on the issue to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“All international sports organizations have to date confirmed Tuan has not been using performance enhancing drugs.” he said.

Reported by Lan Phuong