Archive from 2012

UAE to send woman weightlifter to London

Weightlifter Khadija Mohammad on Thursday became only the second woman to be chosen for the United Arab Emirates Olympic team. The athlete, who will compete in the 75kg category in London, was named after the country's women's weightlifters secured one place at the London Games by finishing fifth in the Asian Championships in South Korea last month. "We are proud to belong to this historic moment when we see one of our women athletes qualify to an Olympic Games," Mohammad Al Kamali, General Secretary of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC), told UAE newspaper Gulf News. The only other woman to compete for the UAE since it began participating in the Olympics in 1984 was Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Beijing four years ago. The daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE, she took part in the women's under-67 kg taekwondo. Only Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have yet to have female athletes participate in an Olympic Games, although Brunei and Qatar are expected to send women to take part in London. Six London-bound athletes across four sports were named in a ceremony at Dubai Aquarium on Thursday. They will form part of an expected contingent of 32 from seven sports, the country's largest-ever representation at an Olympic Games, a UAE NOC press release said. Three of the athletes named were from the sport of shooting with two, Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and Sheikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, from Dubai's ruling family, together with Dhaher Al Eryani. Sheikh Saeed will compete in the skeet, Sheikh Juma in the double trap and Al Eryani in the trap. Shooting is the only event the UAE has won an Olympic medal in, with another member of Dubai's ruling family, Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum, claiming gold in the double trap in Athens in 2004. Also named on Thursday were swimmer Mubarak Salem Al Besher and Humaid Al Derei from judo, selected after the UAE received wildcard invitations to take part. The sports still to name their athletes from the UAE are sailing, athletics and men's football. The soccer squad, which will make up the majority of the UAE contingent, won a place at the Olympics for the first time and will face hosts Great Britain, Senegal and Uruguay. The Games officially open on July 27 and run until August 12, although the football tournament begins on July 25. Source:

Fischer: Athletes must support Code Review Process

Sportsmen and women around the world should use their expertise and experience to help strengthen the World Anti-Doping Code, said WADA Athlete Committee member Dr. Sara Fischer. The Code is currently undergoing a two-year review that will culminate in a new version being approved at the World Conference on Doping in Sport in November 2013. The second Consultation Phase got underway at the beginning of June and Dr. Fischer has encouraged athletes to make recommendations before the October 10 deadline. “The Code protects the rights of clean athletes worldwide so it makes sense that athletes play an active role in its development,” said Dr. Fischer, a twice Olympic snowboarder for Sweden. “As athletes, we are tested every day across the world and it is the athletes who can give valuable feedback about many aspects of the testing and results management process. “Ultimately we are the ones who are most affected by the Code and therefore it is in our best interest to take some responsibility in making sport a level playing field. This is our chance to have our voices heard.” In all there are three Consultation Phases, with the third running from December 1 to March 1, 2013. Although the next version of the Code will be approved later next year, it will not come into force until January 1, 2015. To help expedite the process of making recommendations, WADA has created WADAConnect to allow interested parties to make recommendations online and by directly referencing the article of concern. “Submitting a recommendation is a simple process, and you can also request that it is not made public if you wish for it to be kept confidential,” added Fischer. “Recommendations are made by a wide range of interested parties and I think the more athletes get involved the more the Code will reflect their needs and wishes.” Source:

New sponsorship deal signed by the IWF and Zhen-Ao Group China

The International Weightlifting Federation and Zhen-Ao Group China signed a Sponsorship Agreement yesterday in Budapest, Hungary. Among the 106 International Sports Organizations, weightlifting, strongly anchored in the Olympic Movement, displays a strong and reliable value for new partners. Zhen-Ao, a fast growing company in the health industry developing nucleic acid products, natural medicines with contemporary biological technology made a great success in China. Today, they have their presence secured in more than 20 countries worldwide. Negotiations between the two organizations started 1 year ago in Penang, Malaysia on the occasion of the 2011 IWF Junior World Championships, where the idea of cooperation emerged. Yesterday, a significant milestone was reached. The company established in 1996, has more than 60 products and started a strong strategic collaboration with the Chinese Olympic Committee in 2001. Zhen-Ao was the official health supplement supplier of the Chinese Olympic Team in preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games, and continues in this function for London 2012. Aware of the potential dangers engendered by nutritional supplements, upon request of the IWF, Zhen-Ao products have passed the relevant tests at the Center of Preventive Doping Research of the German Sport University Cologne. The contract was ratified by Mrs. Pan Xiao-Fei, Group President, Zhen-Ao China and Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President. Mr. Guan Qing-Lei, Marketing President, Zhen-Ao China, Mr. Chun Fatt-Teck, Regional President, Zhen-Ao Malaysia, Mr. C.K. Tan, Chief Strategy Officer, Zhen-Ao Malaysia, Mr. Dato Ong Poh Eng, IWF Executive Board Member and other dignitaries were present during the official ceremony. Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President said “Both Zhen-Ao and we are confident that our 2-years contract can be extended further subject to mutual satisfaction, professionalism and a well-functioning

IOC takes decisive action on ticketing allegations

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved quickly to deal with allegations that some National Olympic Committees (NOC) and Authorised Ticket Resellers (ATR) have broken rules relating to the sale of Olympic tickets. After claims that several NOCs and ATRs were reportedly willing to break the rules by offering to buy or sell tickets outside their territory, sell tickets at inflated prices, or sell tickets to unauthorized resellers, the IOC has ordered an immediate inquiry and referred the allegations to its independent Ethics Commission. On being informed of the allegations, the IOC immediately convened an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Board and determined a number of actions - the convening of the Ethics Commission and asking for any evidence of wrongdoing to be provided to the Commission without delay. The IOC takes these allegations very seriously and has immediately taken the first steps to investigate. Should any irregularities be proven, the organisation will deal with those involved in an appropriate manner. The NOCs are autonomous organisations, but if any of the cases are confirmed the IOC will not hesitate to impose the strongest sanctions. The IOC has also determined that it will take on board any recommendations coming out of the inquiry to improve the way that tickets are allocated and sold internationally in the

WADA launches new Digital Library

WADA has launched a new Digital Library designed to make WADA’s education and information tools more accessible to its stakeholders. The Library will assist stakeholders in developing their education programs by pin-pointing tools available for the target groups they wish to reach. Results of a survey of 597 WADA stakeholders in January 2011 revealed that the education and information tools available were highly-valued but required better means of access. The Digital Library is accessible on WADA’s

CAS decision confirmed IWF’s sanction on Dutch weightlifter

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on the 25th May 2012 that: The Appeal filed by Ms. Mita Overvliet on 23 December 2011 against the decision dated 2 December 2011 rendered by the IWF Doping Hearing Panel is dismissed. The decision rendered by the IWF Doping Hearing Panel on 2 December 2011 is confirmed. Ms. Mita Overvliet being ineligible to compete in weightlifting competitions for a period of four years starting from 23 May