Nine Iranian weightlifters who tested positive for doping on the eve of the world championships have been banned for two years by the sport's international federation, the state-run IRNA agency reported.

The ban does not affect Iran's best known lifter, the 105-plus kilogram double Olympic champion and world record holder Hossein Rezazadeh, who was one of only two athletes on the 11-strong squad to test negative for excessive levels of testosterone.

However the Iranian weightlifting federation was also slapped with a $US400,000 ($A537,526) fine and the entire team will be disqualified for two years if this is not paid, the agency added.

Iran's national weightlifting coach, Georgi Ivanov, a Bulgarian, has also been banned from all activity in weightlifting for life by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), according to IRNA.

Ivanov was quoted as saying at the time the scandal broke that he was not aware "additives" in food supplements that he prescribed for the athletes were illegal.

"I am happy as our other athletes can participate in other competitions but also sad as our innocent athletes were victims of an injustice," said the head of Iranian weightlifting, Ali Moradi.

Rezazadeh is the only Iranian weightlifter to have travelled to the world championships in the Dominican Republic, where he will defend his world crown later in the week.

AFP