Weightlifting: Nigerian ban boost for Baker

Wellington weightlifter Olivia Baker has been given a boost after her disappointing performance at the world championships in Turkey, when she failed to record a legal lift.

Her coach, Garry Marshall, said Nigeria had been banned from all international competition for 12 months for the use of illegal substances, removing an obstacle to Baker's medal chances at the Manchester Commonwealth Games next year. The ban will rule Nigeria out of the Games weightlifting.

Marshall said that while Baker was ranked No 1 in the Commonwealth, a Nigerian lifter had finished ahead of her at last year's Sydney Olympics.

Aucklander Nigel Avery finished ninth in the 105kg-plus division at the world championships, breaking the Commonwealth clean-and-jerk and combined records.

- NZPA