BEIJING - Chinese weightlifter Liao Hui, who claimed the gold medal in the men's +69 kilogram event at the Beijing Olympics and broke two world records at the 2010 Turkey World Weightlifting Championship, has been banned for four years by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after failing a doping test.

The IWF announced Liao's punishment, which will stretch to Sept 30, 2014, as part of a list of suspended competitors on its website.

The 24-year-old was also stripped of his gold medals and world records at the 2010 Worlds.

Liao continued to perform impressively after winning the Olympic title. He claimed all three gold medals in the +69kg category at the 2009 and 2010 World Championships.

Liao disappeared from international events after the Worlds due to injury, the Chinese weightlifting said. He made his only recent appearance at this year's National Men's Weightlifting Championship, but failed in all three trails in the snatch event.

The four-year suspension means Liao will miss the London Olympics next year.

Calls by China Daily to Liao, coach Yu Jie, and Ma Wenguang, president of the Chinese Weightlifting Association, went unanswered.

Nine other weightlifters were suspended by the IWF for doping.

Factfile of?China's 2008 Olympic champion Liao Hui:

Date of birth: October 5, 1987

Coach: Yu Jie

Birthplace: Xiantao, Hubei province

Career: Joined the Xiantao Sports School in July 1997 and the national team in May 2007.

Results:

2005 - Overall champion in the Chinese Youth Weightlifting Championships

2005 - Triple gold medalist in the Asian Youth Championships

2006 - Triple gold medalist in the Chinese Youth Championships

2007 - 69kg class champion in the World Cup

2008 - 69kg class champion in the Olympic Games

2009 - Triple gold medalist at the 69kg class at the world championships

2010 - Overall champion at the 69kg class at the world championships