Archive from 2024

Webpage for the IWF World Cup in Phuket already available!

With two and a half months to go before the start of the event, the webpage devoted to the IWF World Cup, to be held from March 31-April 11 in Phuket (THA) is already available, by clicking here. Launched by the organisers of the competition, it contains all the relevant information for the participating delegations wishing to take part in the IWF World Cup. In this site, you will be able to discover details about the organising city, the venue, provisional competition and training schedule, transportation and accommodation facilities, and of course on accreditation and visa procedures. Event-related news will also be regularly posted before and during this important IWF competition. The IWF World Cup is the last qualification event for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris (FRA) and is the second mandatory one for all lifters aspiring to be in the French capital, after the 2023 IWF World Championships, held last September in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). According to the Preliminary Entry status for the competition around 850 lifters from 115 nations are set to perform in Phuket. These numbers will be fine-tuned after the submission of the Final Entries, by no later than January 31, 2024. IWF

José Quiñones (PER) re-elected as Pan-American WL Federation President

José Quiñones, from Peru, was re-elected as President of the Pan-American Weightlifting Federation during the Congress of the continental body, held on January 14, 2024 in Lima (PER). Mr Quiñones was the only final candidate to the presidency, after the withdrawal of Mr William Peña (COL), then elected as General Secretary. A total of 31 National Federations from the Americas were present at the Congress, which elected the following 2024-2028 Executive Board: President: José Quiñones (PER)General Secretary: William Peña (COL)Treasurer: Luis Seijas (VEN)Vice-Presidents: Nadia Alvarado (MEX), Craig Walker (CAN), Jorge Luis Barcelan (CUB) and Luis Zambrano (ECU)Members: Paula Aranda (USA), Andrew Callender (BAR) and Jorge España (BOL)Athlete representative in the EB: Paola Duhart (URU) The new-elected Pan-American Weightlifting Federation Executive Board, led by José Quiñones (fifth from the left) The Congress was attended by several IWF officials, namely: Mohammed Jalood (President), Ursula Papandrea (First Vice-President), Doris Marrero (Vice-President), Matthew Curtain (EB Member), Florian Sperl (EB Member), Yassiny Esquivel (EB Member), Antonio Conflitti (EB Member and EWF President), Mohammed Alharbi (EB Member), Khaled Mehalhel (EB Member and WFA President), and Forrester Osei (EB Member and Athletes Commission Chair). "I am very honoured with the renovated confidence that was given to me by all my colleagues of the American continent. It is a great responsibility for me to drive this amazing community, but I am sure that together we can reach great results and achievements. At local, regional and international level, we are able to deliver unforgettable events and our lifters are also among the best in the planet. This is the result of everyone's work in this part of the world,” considered Mr Quiñones after his successful re-election. Pan-American representatives with IWF officials during the Congress in Lima (PER) “In this so special moment, I would also like to thank the IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the colleagues from the IWF Board who were here in Lima, attending and supporting this Congress. In this Olympic year, I am certain that we will make weightlifting even stronger and more respected worldwide!" Mr Quiñones concluded. IWF Communications

IWF delegation praises preparation of the Junior Worlds in Leon (ESP)

An IWF delegation was in Leon (ESP) this week for a technical visit in preparation for the IWF World Junior Championships, taking place from September 19-27, 2024. Antonio Urso, IWF General Secretary, Antonio Conflitti, IWF Executive Board member and President of the European Weightlifting Federation, and Matyas Lencser, IWF Competition Manager were welcomed by the highest representatives of the Royal Spanish Weightlifting Federation, namely its President Constantino Iglesias, and its Secretary General Juan Lama. From left to right: Juan Lama (SG Spanish WL Federation), Constantino Iglesias (President Spanish WL Federation), Antonio Urso (IWF General Secretary), Jose Antonio Diez Diaz (Mayor of Leon), Antonio Conflitti (EWF President), and Matyas Lencser (IWF Competition Manager) While in Leon, a city situated in the northwest of the Iberian peninsula, the group had the opportunity to visit the hotels that will host the participants in the competition, as well as the venue where the event will take place. The Mayor of the City, Mr Jose Antonio Diez Diaz, received the weightlifting representatives in the Town Hall, where a Press Conference was held and the local media briefed about the details of the organisation. Meeting with the Mayor of Leon Finally, a visit to the CAR (National Training Centre) was also scheduled – a facility where members of Spain’s national team train frequently. The competition venue During the meeting between the IWF and the Spanish Federation, hosts of the Championships, all aspects related to the set-up of the event were analysed, namely the transportation and accommodation plan, the competition and training venue, the promotion of the event, TV production, or the anti-doping and visa procedures. During the Press Conference “It was quite a successful and fruitful visit, which confirmed our very positive expectation on an excellent organisation of these Championships. We were honoured to be received by the Mayor of Leon, proving that the local authorities are fully determined to support in the best possible way this important competition,” considered the IWF General Secretary. “Our gratitude also goes to the Royal Spanish Weightlifting Federation for its outstanding commitment and professionalism in setting-up a great event for our athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators,” Mr Urso concluded. IWF Communications

2024: new year, new Prohibited Substances List

This Olympic year started with a new WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which contains some important updates and modifications. A summary of those changes can be found here, while the new List is available through this link. Particular attention should be given to information regarding tramadol: in September 2022, WADA decided to prohibit the narcotic tramadol in competition, effective January 1, 2024. The delay in implementation was to ensure stakeholders had enough time to learn and adapt to this change, especially as it pertained to the education of athletes, their entourage, and medical personnel.  Credit image: www.wada-ama.org/ Tramadol has been on WADA’s Monitoring Programme and data gathered through that programme have indicated significant use in sports. Tramadol abuse, with its risk of physical dependence, opiate use disorder and overdoses, is of concern worldwide and has led to it being a controlled drug in many countries. Research studies funded by WADA have also confirmed the potential for tramadol to enhance sports performance.  Besides changes in the List, 2024 also saw the implementation of a new Monitoring Programme (available here) In order to enhance athletes’ feedback on this important topic, WADA is organising a 2024 annual perception survey. We invite all lifters to complete this questionnaire, by no later than January 17, 2024 by clicking in the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QC8XPBT Other relevant information: Medical Professionals Factsheet on tramadol (available now)   Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2024 List (available

Chinese lifters and officials get a Parisian “taste” before the Games

After its successful participation in the IWF Grand Prix II in Doha (QAT) and before its return to the country, the Chinese weightlifting team travelled to Paris (FRA) from December 14-21, 2023 to get a “taste” of the facilities provided for the upcoming Olympic Games in August.   During their stay in the French capital, the Asian delegation had the opportunity to share the facilities of the national weightlifting training center at INSEP, as part of the training sessions scheduled jointly with the French Olympic team. This enriching experience was highlighted by the staging of a seminar where French and Chinese could debate on talent detection, training and coaching methods. This opportunity also allowed Team China to visit the French capital, namely the Olympic Village at Saint Ouen, which in a few months will be home to all the athletes taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After a detailed presentation of the Village’s construction project and its conversion into residential accommodation after the Games, the Chinese delegation was able to take their first step into the Village and see where the future weightlifting training room will be located. Michel Raynaud, President of the French Weightlifting and IWF Executive Board member, underlined the importance of this visit: “It was a very rewarding opportunity to share our experiences and to forge common and stronger links between the two teams. I would like to thank all the Chinese athletes and officials for their availability, and their willingness to fruitfully co-operate with us during this period leading to the