Nijat Rahimov

{{Short description|Azerbaijani-born naturalised Kazakhstani weightlifter}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

|image = Nijat Rahimov.jpg

|caption =

|native_name = Nicat Rəhimov / Нижат Раxимов

| nationality = Azerbaijani

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|8|13|df=y}}

|birth_place = Baku, Azerbaijan

|country = {{Flagu|Kazakhstan}}

|sport = Olympic weightlifting

|event = -77 kg

|coach =

| pb = {{unbulleted list|Snatch: 165 kg (2016)|Clean and jerk: 214 kg (2016, WR)|Total: 379 kg (2016)}}

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry| {{Flagu|Kazakhstan}}}}

{{MedalCountry| {{Flagu|Azerbaijan}}}}

|height = {{height|m=1.65}}

|weight = {{cvt|76|kg}}

}}

Nijat Rahimov ({{langx|az|Nicat Rəhimov}}; born 13 August 1993) is an Azerbaijani-born naturalized Kazakhstani weightlifter.[http://apasport.az/news/94284 Olimpiya çempionumuz Qazaxıstan vətəndaşlığını qəbul etdi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821115709/http://www.apasport.az/news/94284 |date=21 August 2014 }}. apasport.az He represented Kazakhstan at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in the category of 77 kg, he placed first, winning the gold medal and setting a new world record with a clean and jerk lift of 214 kilograms. In 2022, the medal was stripped and he was banned when it was revealed he substituted urine samples.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/weightlifting/60832032|title=Kazakhstan's Nijat Rahimov stripped of Rio 2016 Olympic gold medal and banned|work= BBC|accessdate=23 March 2022}}

Career

Rahimov won a gold medal for Azerbaijan at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics[https://archive.today/20140228042308/http://en.trend.az/news/society/1736685.html Azerbaijan wins fourth gold at Youth Olympic Games]. En.trend.az (17 August 2010). Retrieved on 2017-01-20. and a silver at the 2013 Junior World Weightlifting Championships.[http://www.iwrp.net/component/cwyniki/?view=contest&id_zawody=765 39th Junior World Championships 2013-05-03 Lima]. iwrp.net

At the 2013 Summer Universiade he served as a flag bearer for Azerbaijan.[http://www.azertag.com/en/node/1114473 Sports World University Games start in Kazan]. Azertag.com (8 July 2013). Retrieved on 20 January 2017. Rahimov was suspended for 2 years from June 2013 after testing positive for anabolic steroids. An out of competition doping test found prior use of oxandrolone and dehydromethyltestosterone.{{cite web | title=Sanctioned Athletes / Athlete Support Personnel | url=http://www.iwf.net/anti-doping/sanctions/ | website=iwf.net | publisher=International Weightlifting Federation | access-date=8 August 2016}}

Rahimov won a gold medal for Kazakhstan at the 2016 Olympics in the 77 kg weight class, setting a world record in clean and jerk (214 kg).{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/weightlifting-recap-mens-77kg-and-womens-69kg |title=Weightlifting recap: Nijat Rahimov sets world record, steals gold from Lyu Xiaojun |work=Nbcolympics.com}}[http://liftup.chidlovski.net/liftup/l_athleteStatsResult.asp?a_id=2147 Nijat Rahimov]. chidlovski.net[https://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/dbgwh/daten.php?spid=3A51365E80944E38B886AA3154F6306A Rahimov Nijat (KAZ)]. iat.uni-leipzig.de

In 2022, he was stripped of his gold medal from the 2016 Olympics over doping.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/03/23/more-sports/doping-rahimov-weightlifting/|title=Kazakh weightlifter Nijat Rahimov stripped of Rio gold over doping|work= Japan Times|date=23 March 2022 |accessdate=23 March 2022}} The Egyptian weightlifter, who finished third in the 2016 Olympics, has made statements against him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1103173/kazakhstan-urine-swapping-charge|title=Kazakhstan weightlifter's Rio 2016 gold under threat as ITA presses charges|date=19 January 2021|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109422/brian-oliver-weightlifting-blog-china|title=Why weightlifting will spurn golden chance to turn scandal to advantage in Tokyo|date=25 June 2021|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/10/rio-olympics-weightlifting-world-record-nijat-rahimov-doping-controversy-kazakhstan|title=Kazakhstan's weightlifting triumph clouded by doping controversy|first=Associated Press in Rio de|last=Janeiro|date=11 August 2016|website=the Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/30740808/olympic-weightlifting-champion-nijat-rahimov-charged-doping-case|title=Weightlifting champion charged in doping case|date=19 January 2021|website=ESPN.com}}