Samoa weightlifter

The Samoa Observer reported that Feagaiga Stowers lifted 121kg in the snatch and 155kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 276kg, setting three new records for the region.

In July, Stowers will defend her Commonwealth women's over 90kg division title, which she won at the 2018 Gold Coast games.

President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork, said it was a fantastic performance by Feagaiga and that she is on the right path to win gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Sipaia told the Samoa Observer she had done nothing wrong and was innocent because she had never intended to take drugs to enhance her performance.

However, in speaking out, she has also put Olympic silver medalist Ele Opeloge and her sister, Pacific Games gold medalist Mary Opeloge in the spotlight.

Sipaia told the newspaper that a 'Doctor Tala' had told her the injection was not a banned substance and that he had used the same on Ele, Mary and other lifters.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was shocked when he received news of this development during a media conference yesterday.

He says while the new placement should move Opeloge into second place, he leaves the final decision to the Olympic Committee.

“That’s their responsibility. What we should take as a lesson here is to be very careful with these substances, that’s the more important thing for our Olympic Committee and athletes to be aware of,” Tuilaepa said.

Opeloge, who won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is aware that competition at the Olympic level is a whole new level.

 “I have never competed in an Olympic competition before, so this being my first time means a lot of new experiences for me,” she said.

 “All I’m doing now is preparing, training and getting my mind ready for the competition,” she said.

Opeloge has several medals to her name from regional competitions.

The 24 year old says despite stepping into unfamiliar territory in Rio, she isn’t afraid to take the challenge head on.