Rezazadeh to participate in international coaching course

"Rezazadeh will not compete in the Beijing Games after doctors advised him against engaging in 'heavy and stressful activities', he said.

According to Afsharzadeh, Rashid Sharifi -- a young and promising weightlifter and an Asian champion -- will replace Rezazadeh in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Rezazadeh, known as the 'Iranian Hercules', won Olympic gold in the +105 kg category in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) and was named the World's Best Weightlifter by the International Weightlifting Federation in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Rezazadeh holds world records in snatch (213 kilos), clean jerk (263 kilos) and total (472 kilos).

Rezazadeh won a gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, but has not competed in international event since sustaining a knee injury in a road accident last year.