Belated golden glory for powerlifter Cliff (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Belated golden glory for powerlifter Cliff

5:16pm Thursday 24th May 2012 in Sport By Matt Plummer

Clacton powerlifter Cliff Haynes could be on course for an unexpected gold medal – three years after taking part in a competition.

The 51-year-old came second overall at the 2009 World Drug-Free Powerlifting Championships, in Milton Keynes.

However, his rival who won the event, Mark Flemming, has now failed a “longitudinal” drug test and been handed a lifetime ban by the British Drug-Free Powerlifting Association.

He has also been stripped of all his records and titles.

It means Haynes has now been upgraded and will go down in the record books as the 2009 world champion, having already won his under-75kg body weight class in the Masters Two category (for 50 to 59-year-olds).

“It feels good that justice has finally been done,” said former national, European and world champion Haynes, who trains at Hamiltons Fitness Centre, in Colchester.

For the full story, see this week's Gazette.