A file photo of Chinese weightlifter Liu Chunhong (R, 1st). [Photo: Xinhua]

The Chinese Weightlifting Association vowed to investigate three Chinese weightlifting champions from the 2008 Summer Olympics after they failed doping retests.

In a statement released on August 24, the association has voiced their astonishment at the test results and pledged to show "zero tolerance" toward dishonesty and to hold those involved in the matter accountable.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) revealed in an earlier statement that the three Chinese champions are Cao Lei, Liu Chunhong and Chen Xiexia, who were all tested positive for GHRP-2, a type of substance that stimulates growth hormone production.

The athletes are all provisionally suspended and may face further actions.

Current world record holder Andrei Rybakou of Belarus, who won silver during the 2008 Games, is also among those who failed the retest.

The other medalists who failed the test are Anastasia Novikova of Belarus, Kazakhstan's Maria Grabovetskaya and Irina Nekrasova, Russia's Khadzhimurat Akkaev and Dmitry Lapikov, and Ukraine's Natalya Davydova and Olha Korobka.