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Malaysia faces a two-year ban from weightlifting that would keep it out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, because three more of its athletes have been caught taking steroids.
A fine of $100,000 also hangs on Malaysia.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which conducted the tests, adopted a new, tougher anti-doping policy in April, under which any nation with three or more positives in a calendar year faces a ban of up to four years rather than two.
The Malaysian federation has had five positives since last October.
The three new cases take Malaysia to a total of 10 since 2008.
Malaysia had to withdraw its top-ranked 69 kilograms lifter and defending champion, Mohd Hafifi Mansor, from the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last month because he tested positive last October.
Mohamad Fazrul Azrie, who took bronze in the 85kg in Gold Coast, was tested by the Malaysian anti-doping agency.
The three positives are under 21
They are Muhamad Hakimie Nordin, an 85kg lifter who competed at the past two IWF Youth World Championships; Muhamad Zaidi Nordin, who won 62kg gold in the Commonwealth Junior and Senior Championships last year; and Ronny Jesos, third in the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games at 56kg.
Its men's team finished third in the points table in Gold Coast after winning two golds.
Malaysia's chance of winning an appeal against the decision looks remote.
Samah Ali, a former international lifter for Malaysia, said offenders should not be given a second chance.
