Romela Begaj

Romela Aleksandër Begaj (born 2 November 1986) is an Albanian weightlifter. On 11 November 2014 in Almaty she became world champion in the Snatch style for the category up to 63 kg. Previously Begaj represented Albania at the 2008 European Weightlifting Championships where she took home the silver medal. She also represented Albania at 2008 Olympic Games in China where she finished 6th in the under 58 kg category.

In the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships she got a bronze medal in snatch.

Begaj, 28, became the first Albanian woman to win a World Championship gold medal by lifting 113 kg in the snatch. However, Begaj failed an anti-doping test for this event, and her results were expunged.

In January 2019, International Weightlifting Federation banned her for eight years for the doping violation.

2008 Olympic Games in Beijing Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank Result Rank Result Rank Romela Begaj -58 kg 98 4th 118 7th 216 6th