Velichko Cholakov, noted weightlifter from Bularia passes away

Bulgarian weightlifter Velichko Cholakov (35), an Olympic and world medalist, has passed away in Smolyan, Bularia on August 20, 2017. He took +105 kg bronze at the Athens 2004 Olympics and silver in the same division in the 2003 world championships.
He was part of the Bulgarian team pulled from the Beijing 2008 Games after failed dope tests. Cholakov was one of 11 members of the contingent to test positive for a banned anabolic steroid. In recent years Cholakov dedicated his time to training young weightlifters in Smolyan.