Coach quits over doping row

India's Egyptian weightlifting coach has quit after a lengthy row with federation chiefs, during which he alleged doping by the country's senior lifters.

Magad Salama, who forwarded his resignation to the state-run Sports Authority of India (SAI), said he was waiting for it to be accepted so he could return home.

"I didn't get an answer, but maybe today or tomorrow I will," he said.

"I'm closing this thing, I don't have any relationship with weightlifting in India," he added.

"I don't have any comment about the situation here."

A senior SAI official confirmed Salama's resignation was on the verge of being accepted.

India's lifters were thrust into the spotlight when positive tests in high-profile competitions led to a suspension in 2006.

Even though the country's only medal at the Sydney Olympics was won by a weightlifter, so far no Indian lifters have qualified for the Beijing Games.

A senior federation official said Salama had demanded a free hand to pick mostly juniors for the upcoming Asian championship - an Olympic qualifying event - after he had raised concerns about doping by senior lifters.