DOHA, Dec 9: A female weightlifter has failed a drugs test at the 15th Asian Games and been disqualified, organisers said on Saturday.

Myanmar's Than Kyi Kyi, who placed fourth in the 48kg category event in Doha, tested positive for the banned diuretic furosemide, marking the first failed test of the 15th Games.

The 28-year-old was tested on Dec. 2 and had waived her right to have a 'B' sample tested, organisers said.

The failed test is another body blow for the sport, after India's lifting federation was banned for a year for doping violations and Iran had to pull out of this year's world championships after nine of its lifters tested positive.

Husain Al Musallam, director general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said Than's case would be referred to the International Weightlifting Federation, rejecting any talk of collective punishment.

Some 1,200 tests will be conducted at the Games in Doha, including all medal winners - an increase of 40 percent from the 2002 Games, Doha's medical and doping control manager Abdul Wahab Al Mussleh said. “We have conducted 630 tests so far, including 86 pre-game testing and 544 in competition.”—Reuters