Bulgarian Izabela Dragneva-Rifatova was ranked sixth in the women's 48kg in the 2004 Olympic Games. Photo by BNT
Bulgarian Izabela Dragneva-Rifatova was ranked sixth in the women's 48kg final at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Turkish young star Nurcan Taylan swept the gold medal after facing the strong rivalry of China's Li Zhuo, who won the silver medal. The bronze went to Thailand's Aree Viratthaworn.
Dragneva, headed for Athens for a gold after Bulgaria's triumph in the 48kg class at the Sydney Olympics lasted only a few days, as the then 29-year-old Dragneva was stripped of her gold medal after failing a drug test. Following a two-year ban, Dragneva returned to competition in 2002. In April, 2004, she claimed the European champion title in Kiev, Ukraine.