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CAS decision upholds IMFSP sanction against Egypt

Following a hearing at the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), the appeal of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation was dismissed and the decision rendered by the Independent Member Federations Sanctioning Panel (IMFSP) to suspend the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation was upheld. In dismissing the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation’s appeal against the sanction, the CAS arbitration panel ordered the Federation to make a contribution towards the IWF’s expenses in connection with the proceedings. The IMFSP had originally imposed sanctions against the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation on 12 September, with the suspension being based on multiple anti-doping rule violations that were committed by Egyptian weightlifters. After having been ineligible to send athletes to the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships, the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation will now be unable to qualify athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. “If we are to ensure a culture of clean competition, then we must be prepared to see the most serious of consequences applied in extreme cases. The IWF will now do all it can to help the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation with education and improvement in the field of anti-doping, so that their athletes may make a successful return to

Open Letter to Weightlifters

Dear weightlifters, Athletes have always been the beating heart of weightlifting. This is central to the International Weightlifting Federation’s values and we have a number of mechanisms that allow us to listen carefully to the athletes’ voice. We always aim not only to be good listeners, but to be as responsive as we can be to the views of all weightlifters. It was with great interest that I read the statement that has been circulated on behalf of representatives of the USA Weightlifting Athletes’ Committee, as well as the Athletes Advisory Committee of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Global Athlete, dated 25 November. Please allow me to start by recognising the clarity of the views it expressed and also the determination it showed to ensure that fairness and independence remain the foundations of our approach to anti-doping. We were very encouraged to see athletes acknowledging the progress we have made, especially in recent years, towards ensuring weightlifting is a clean sport. After all, nothing less than the Olympic status of our sport depends on these efforts. In particular, I appreciate the concern over any proposals whereby sanctioning powers might be returned to the IWF Executive Board, for whose members a conflict of interest may exist. I share the view that doing this would not only be a step backwards, but would fail to honour our commitments to athletes, Member Federations, the global weightlifting family, the IOC and WADA. Furthermore, it would give the impression that such sensitive decisions may be politically influenced. The current panel for sanctioning Member Federations consists of independent members: Richard Young, Ulrich Haas, Andrea Gotzmann, Andrew Pipe and Ben Sandford. Their independence and their anti-doping expertise are unquestionable and widely recognised. I fully support independence – but real independence. Instead of moving backwards, I strongly believe we should move forwards and increase the independence of the sanctioning process, notably for individuals with anti-doping rule violations which are committed by athletes and athlete support personnel. In order to progress, it would seem appropriate for the IWF to consider how sanctioning individual athletes and their supporting personal can be completely independent. To go a step further would involve the sanctioning of individuals being handled by a body that is completely independent of the IWF. In order to prepare for compliance with the 2021 WADA Code already, I will propose to the IWF Executive Board and fully support cooperating with the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration in Sport. This would ensure that only independent expert arbitrators adjudicate those cases where hearings are requested by the individuals concerned. By choosing this solution, the IWF would adopt the most rigorous approach available to us. It is the same solution that applies to athletes at the Olympic Games, who are no longer sanctioned by the IOC in the case of anti-doping rule violations. Instead, these cases are also adjudicated by the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration in Sport. In the meantime, please know that I am committed to ensuring the IWF continues to look ahead, not behind, listening to and protecting clean athletes. This commitment remains based on my firm belief that all athletes should be treated in the same equal, fair and independent way when it comes to clean sport. Yours sincerely, Dr. Tamas Ajan IWF President IOC Honorary

Turkey commemorates weightlifting legend Suleymanoglu

Turkey commemorated weightlifting legend Naim Suleymanoglu, a triple Olympic gold medal winner who died on Nov. 18, 2017. This year marked two years since the death of the Bulgarian-born Suleymanoglu, who died of liver failure at the age of 50 after being admitted to an Istanbul hospital for liver transplant on Oct. 6, 2017. Nicknamed "Pocket Hercules" for his 1.47 meters (4 feet 10 inches) frame, Suleymanoglu went down in weightlifting history, winning gold medals in three consecutive Olympic games: Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. Suleymanoglu was the first weightlifter to bag gold medals at three different Olympic Games. "He dominated the sport for over a decade and by the time he finished his career, he had set an astonishing 46 world records," according to the Olympic website. [caption id="attachment_28494" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Inforgaphic by AA[/caption] He became an important sports figure over his hat-trick in Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta. Born Naim Suleimanov with Turkish roots in the southern Bulgarian province of Kardzhali in 1967, Suleymanoglu set a lifting record of 190 kilograms (419 pounds) in the clean and jerk in the 1988 Olympics. Although Suleymanoglu set his first world record when he was 16, he could not enter the the 1984 Olympics, when Bulgaria joined the Soviet boycott of the Los Angeles games. He was competing for Bulgaria at that time. In 1984, 1985 and 1986, Suleymanoglu was picked as the world's best weightlifter. In 1992, he was named the best athlete on the globe by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Media Commission. Escape to Turkey In 1986, he took shelter in the Turkish Embassy in Australia after the Weightlifting World Cup in Melbourne, seeking to escape pressures in Bulgaria. The 1980s witnessed Bulgarian oppression against the country's Turkish minority, forcing them to adopt Slavic names and prohibiting their language, with Suleymanoglu defected to Turkey in protest. The Communist regime in Bulgaria forced Turks to run away to the neighboring Turkey. It was in this period that the Bulgarian government changed Suleymanoglu's name -- without his consent -- to Naum Shalamanov. Suleymanoglu was airlifted to Turkey's capital Ankara from Australia by Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal in a secret operation. Once the World Cup in Melbourne ended, Suleymanoglu risked his life but managed to escape from the Bulgaria camp with the help of the Turkish government. He took a Turkish jet to fly to London first, and then to Ankara. The Turkish government paid Bulgaria $1 million to make Suleymanoglu compete for Turkey in the 1988 Olympics, as Bulgaria allowed him to represent Turkey in international competitions. Appearing on Time cover page The world-renowned Time magazine put Suleymanoglu on the cover of its Jan. 3, 1988 issue after his success in the 1988 Olympics. Suleymanoglu's medal-galore career ended in 2000 as he claimed seven World and European Championships each as well as 46 world records. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected to the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic movement, in 2001. On Nov. 19, 2017, Suleymanoglu was buried in Istanbul's Edirnekapi Martyr's Cemetery, located in the European part of the city. His biggest rival from Greece, Valerios Leonidis attended Suleymanoglu's funeral. Suleymanoglu's story in film The biography of Suleymanoglu was filmed and will be released on Nov. 22 in Turkey. A Turkish-Dutch actor, Hayat Van Eck, 19, is the protagonist of the drama movie "Cep Herkülü (Pocket Hercules): Naim Süleymanoğlu", portraying the Turkish weightlifting legend. Source: Anadolu

Coaching Seminar in Cyprus

In the framework of the IWF Development Program, the Cyprus Weightlifting Federation organized a Coaching Seminar this November. 36 participants attended the event from various age groups. The two-day event included an Anti-Doping Seminar, theoretical and practical Coaching Seminars, an introduction to Psychology: Adrenaline, Injury prevention and Nutrition/Supplementation, in the presentation of Dennis Offerman, Michael Petrou, Colin Buckley and Jagoda Podkowka. Colin Buckley gave an update about the EWF Coaching project and the latest scientifical findings. Dr Petrou explained the audience how to use the WADA and National Anti-Doping websites more effectively, concerning medication and

Christine Girard was induced into Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame

Christine Girard was the first Canadian female weightlifter to win Olympic medals - a bronze in 2008 in Beijing and she is the Champion of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Christine originally ranked fourth in Beijing and third in London, but her results were updated, and she finally received two Olympic medals on an awarding ceremony last year in Ottawa. "I got those medals in the name of all Canadians," she said. "It was a win for the values of our country and for clean sport. There are things like endorsements and financial support that I'll never get back. But my medals have a bigger meaning. Now there are other countries that believe there's a better way to do this sport. I think we're proud to be from a clean country and we believe in drug-free sport. " The 34-year-old retired athlete is a true role model for women in weightlifting, she enters the Canadian Hall of Fame well deserved. Not only for her exceptional achievements for her country but also for her dedication to promoting clean sport and gender equality in weightlifting and all territories of life. "I like to see little girls doing sports that were once thought of to be for boys only," she said. "You can wear pink if you're a boy. You can lift weights if you're a girl. It's whatever works for you, as long as you follow what you're passionate about." “My story is proof that it is worth everything to work hard, to believe in yourself and, most of all, to stay true to your values and your passions. Dreams are within reach when you work hard every day of your life and you allow yourself to believe.” Read more about Christine Girard's life

IWF Development Program Donations

In the framework of the 2018 IWF Development Program, besides the numerous seminars organized, the IWF also donated equipment to several countries. The Member Federations applied for support last year and received brand new equipment including barbell sets or weightlifting costume, shoes, belts etc. Weightlifters of Guam, Aruba, Kenya and Bulgaria can already enjoy the new equipment.   [caption id="attachment_28452" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Aruba[/caption] [caption id="attachment_28457" align="aligncenter" width="226"] Bulgaria[/caption] [caption id="attachment_28458" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Guam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_28460" align="aligncenter" width="269"]