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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Banned from the 2016 Olympics for excessive doping, Bulgaria's weightlifting team has appealed to sport's highest court.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the Bulgarian federation also challenges a $500,000 fine and wants sanctions frozen pending the verdict.
No date is set for the appeal hearing.
The International Weightlifting Federation's executive board barred Bulgaria last month as "not eligible to participate" in Rio de Janeiro in August.
In March, eight men and three women in the Bulgaria team tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol during training.
Bulgaria has a tainted record in Olympic weightlifting.
In 2008, the team was withdrawn weeks before the Beijing Games after 11 lifters tested positive for banned drugs.
In 2000, the team was sent home from Sydney and stripped of three medals.
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