Iranian Olympic weightlifting champion Kianoush Rostami plans to auction his Rio 2016 gold medal to raise money for victims of the recent earthquake in Iran.

Rostami set a record lift of 396 kg in the men's 85 kg category at Rio 2016

The quake has devastated communities in the north of the country, killing hundreds and leaving many without homes.

Rostami wrote in a post on social media site Instagram: "I am returning my Rio 2016 Olympics gold medal - which actually belongs to them - to my people.

"I will put my medal up for auction. All the proceedings will go to those hit by the earthquake."

The medal is likely to raise a large sum. An anonymously consigned Rio 2016 gold realised £44,000 ($56,915) at Graham Budd in May.

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