Zhou Jinqiang has been elected as the new President of the Chinese Weightlifting Federation ©CWF

Zhou Jinqiang has been elected as the new President of the Chinese Weightlifting Federation (CWA).

The official has replaced Ma Wenguang who has relinquished his role after backing failed International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Presidential candidate Antonio Urso.

China's weightlifters at the Rio 2016 Olympics were led by Zhou, the former first vice president of the organisation who has also worked in judo and wrestling. 

"Mr Zhou will take the role and responsibility of leading the weightlifting sport of China to a higher level," a statement on the IWF website said.

"The Chinese Weightlifting Association, under the leadership of the newly elected President, will work closely with the IWF for the promotion and development of the sport of weightlifting throughout the world."

The news is another setback for 60-year-old Ma, who competed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the 90 kilograms class, finishing 11th.

The 1982 Asian Games gold medallist was initially one of seven candidates to challenge IWF President Tamás Aján at May's election in Bangkok in Thailand.

He withdrew to back Italy's Urso, who went on to lose a two-horse race against Hungary's Aján 86-61.

China dominated weightlifting competition at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
China dominated weightlifting competition at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Ma then lost his general secretary role as Urso supporters were removed from the IWF Executive Board, losing 88-59 to Iraq's Mohamed Jaloud.

He was one of several senior officials to lose their place after opposing Aján, who has been President since 2000.

It means that China, the world's dominant power in weightlifting, now has no representative on any of the IWF's decision-making committees.

A few weeks before the election, Ma had invited Continental Federation leaders to a new general secretary’s headquarters in Beijing, built by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the country's Government. 

China dominated the Rio 2016 Olympics in August, winning five gold medals and two silvers.

The next best performing nation were Thailand, winning two golds, a silver and a bronze.

However, China are one of nine countries facing a one-year ban from weightlifting due to three or more doping positives from International Olympic Committee retests of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

The IWF Executive Board are holding a meeting in September to discuss the matter.