DOHA, Qatar _ The "Iranian Hercules" should put a dent into an expected Chinese gold rush at the Asian Games weightlifting competition.

Hossein Reza Zadeh, who has won back-to-back Olympic golds in the over-105 kilogram event, is one of the world's biggest names in the sport. He has dominated the division since 2002 and is the current world record holder.

Reza Zadeh will have fewer teammates in Doha _ eight of his countrymen were suspended for two years and another banned for life, after testing positive to excessive levels of testosterone in October.

India's weightlifters will also not be in Doha for a related doping issue _ its federation has failed to pay fines from failed drug tests at the Commonwealth Games this year in Melbourne.

That will leave Chinese lifters all the more favored in other events.

China's Dong Feng, who came within a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of matching Reza Zadeh in the clean-and-jerk at the world championships this year, could threaten the Iranian for gold in Doha.

And Dong's teammates Shi Zhiyong, the Olympic and world champion in 69 kg, world champion Li Zheng in 56 kg and Qiu Le in the 62 kg are all gold medal threats.

Although Li, 20, injured his back in training and his coach has said the injury could affect his performance in the 56 kg class Saturday.

"The injury is not serious but I am afraid it would influence his confidence in the competition," said coach Chen Wenbin.

China is also likely to dominate the women's competition, with Olympic gold medalists Chen Yanqing in the 58 kg, Lui Haixia in the 69 kg and Cao Lei in the 75 kg all likely to be on the podium.

South Korea's Jang Mi-ran is favored in the over-75 kg event. The 23-year-old Jang set two world records at a recent three-country tournament, including an overall world record of 318 kg that beat the previous mark by 13 kg.