IWF and ITA representatives discussed plans for the future
On 3 December 2019, representatives of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) met at the ITA’s headquarter in Lausanne to evaluate the cooperation and discuss the future plans aimed at protecting clean athletes and promoting clean sport. The respective Directors General Attila Adamfi and Benjamin Cohen led their teams as the two organisations reviewed both the work already accomplished in 2019, and the future plans for 2020.
“The IWF family continues to work hard to implement robust reforms in its anti-doping program and the discussions held today are encouraging as we continue to work in close cooperation to support and implement the many steps undertaken by IWF to promote a doping-free culture in the sport of weightlifting,” said ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “I believe the ITA has made a meaningful contribution towards ensuring the IWF maintains its position as a leader in the fight against doping as we head into an Olympic year and we are determined to see that this remains the case.”
The partnership started on 1st January 2019 with out of competition testing, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and Education. The transfer concluded in September 2019, whereby all key areas have been transferred to ITA, including: detailed risk assessment, test distribution planning and management, in-competition testing, management of the IWF Athlete Biological Passport programme, results management, and long-term storage and re-analysis of samples. The ITA handled in-competition testing for the 2019 IWF World Championships for the first time, which included the collection and analysis of more than 300 samples.
“I highly appreciate ITA’s contribution to an unprecedented busy year considering the record number of qualification events. Taking over such complex Anti-Doping Program during the Qualification Period was a great challenge, however ITA’s professionalism ensured the smooth and efficient transfer. I am confident that the cooperation of our committed teams will lead to a cultural change to ensure clean sport for future generation of Athletes,” said IWF Director General Attila Adamfi.
