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A powerlifting champ has claimed organisers at a prestigious tournament in Russia scuppered his dream of holding multiple international titles.

Andy Cairney travelled to Moscow last weekend for the WPC world championship after winning in the rival GPC federation’s Euro championships in Poland and their world contest in the Czech Republic earlier this year.

But the 37-year-old’s dream of completing the hat-trick turned sour after being hit with a series of setbacks, forcing him to pull out.

First, he had to endure a four-hour wait in a corridor to weigh in for the competition, which had more than 1000 athletes.

Then he was left frustrated for more than six hours as bosses kept postponing his first lift – despite being told to warm up three times.

The dad – who weighs almost 22st – blamed organisers for ruining his dream by accepting entries from athletes who bought their way in on the day.

He has already received an apology from Russian powerlifting boss Oksana Kuznetsova, who said his experience “was not representative of WPC internationals”.

But Andy, of Knightswood, Glasgow, said: “This was supposed to be the final piece of the jigsaw.It should have been the ultimate trip but it turned into a disaster.

“The organisers favoured the Russian and Iranian lifters.

“They also accepted cash entries from athletes who turned up on the day. Profit came before lifters’ safety and the integrity of the competition.

“It’s such a long way to go to be treated so badly.

“I was told to prepare for squats at 2pm but in the end it didn’t start until 8pm. By then, I had decided it was no longer safe to compete.

“I’d warmed up three times and got myself ready for the platform.

“The competition didn’t finish until after 2am. There were so many competitors in my category, I’d have waited half an hour between my lifts.

“I’ve had an apology and been invited back but it’s left a bad taste.”

Andy, who owns OBS Gym in Clydebank, is taking part in the GPC British Championships this weekend.