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The World Conference on Doping in Sport concluded with an outstanding success

The President of the International Weightlifting Federation, Dr. Tamás Aján was reelected as WADA Foundation Board Member. He fulfills his duties as the member of the Board since WADA was set up in 1999. After a two years consultation process the WADA Foundation Board has unanimously accepted the revised Anti-Doping Code and the WADA Executive Committee also agreed to approve the revised International Standards coming into force on 1 January 2015. After the receipt of the new rules it is all Signatories' duty to incorporate the provisions of the Revised Code into their policies, legislation and rules. The development of the modern sport requires a closer cooperation within the stakeholders of the Anti-Doping Community and the Revised Code assures and states their mutual recognition. During the Conference the neutral IWF Anti-Doping Commission held its’ first informal meeting and identified the key areas of the future cooperation. Dr. Patrick Schamasch the Chairman of the IWF Anti-Doping Commission emphasized the importance of a new relevant, efficient and transparent Test Distribution Plan. The meeting was very fruitful and with the expertise of the members the IWF will fight even more effectively against doping. The only candidate to replace the departing John Fahey was the former British Olympic Association chairman and current International Olympic Committee vice-president Sir Craig Reedie. He was confirmed to become the new president of WADA from 1 January

Significant Changes Between the 2009 Code And the 2015 Code, Version 4.0

During the 2015 Code consultation process, 315 separate submissions were received. The submissions recommended a total of 3,987 changes to the Code. In addition, the Code Drafting Team engaged in dozens of face-to-face and telephonic meetings with stakeholders to discuss the Code. Version 4.0 is the fourth published version of the 2015 Code. In between the published versions, more than 50 different working drafts were considered. In some cases, changes from the 2009 Code were made in an early published version and then changed back in a later version based on continuing stakeholder feedback (for example, the initial proposals to eliminate the B Sample and to change the criteria for adding a substance or method to the Prohibited List). In several other cases, changes were made to make the Code language consistent with the legal opinion on Code enforceability provided by Judge Jean-Paul Costa, the former President of the European Court of Human Rights. As was the case with the 2003 and 2009 Codes, stakeholder input was invaluable in making Version 4.0 of the 2015 Code a more clear and effective document. This input has resulted in 2,269 changes between the 2009 Code and Version 4.0 of the 2015 Code. All of these changes are reflected in the document, “Version 4.0 2015 Code redlined to 2009 Code,” which is posted on WADA’s website. This document provides an overview of those changes organized into seven general themes, including the key changes related to each theme. Check out the document

WADA: New steroid profiling program

JOHANNESBURG -- A new urine test designed to catch athletes who take steroids is to be introduced by the World Anti-Doping Agency next year and will be used at the World Cup in Brazil. WADA called it "the twin'' of the blood profiling currently system used in the athletes' biological passport system. It will allow anti-doping authorities to build a profile of a person's steroid levels from urine samples and to identify any changes -- in a similar way that changes in blood may indicate doping. WADA said Tuesday the new technique will particularly target testosterone and will "complement'' the biological passport. It can be used from Jan. 1, WADA President John Fahey said, announcing the introduction of the "steroidal module'' at the World Conference on Doping in Sport in South Africa. FIFA will be one of the first federations to use it. The world football body said later Tuesday it'll be part of its drug testing at next year's World Cup. "FIFA and WADA will ensure the best possible analysis of urine and blood samples and the proper implementation of the new strategy in the fight against doping by means of the steroid module,'' FIFA said. The steroid technique had been developed alongside the current blood module but then fell behind, Fahey said. Blood profiling has been in use since 2008. Blood profiling has had success in detecting the use of the blood-boosting drug EPO and led to the banning of a number of cyclists. It is currently used by around 35 sports, WADA says. WADA has also developed a mobile App that allows athletes to give their whereabouts to anti-doping agencies through their cellphones or other devices so they don't miss out-of-competition tests. The new App will be available from next month.   Copyright 2013 by The Associated

The IOC appointed Kit McConnell as its new Sports Director

Mr McConnell currently holds the position of Head of the Rugby World Cup and RWC Tournament Director at the International Rugby Board (IRB). In his 10 years with the IRB, he has assisted with the delivery of three very successful Rugby World Cups on and off the field. His responsibilities ranged from the management of the RWC Board, stakeholder relations and RWC event delivery to the management of the RWC tender processes and the development and implementation of all RWC-related strategies, including the redevelopment of the event-delivery, commercial and financial models. Mr McConnell is no stranger to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement. From 2000 to 2002, he was the IOC’s Manager of Sport Operations, where he was responsible for the coordination of sport planning with Organising Committees and relations with International Federations. Before that, he coordinated the planning of all sports, including relations with each respective International Federation for the Sydney 2000 Organising Committee. Mr McConnell brings great expertise to the IOC in the area of planning, managing and delivering major sporting events and has strong ties to the International Federations. He will succeed Christophe Dubi, who will take on the role of Olympic Games Executive Director next year. A national from Australia and New Zealand, Mr McConnell, 40, will take up his post in early

New Glasgow 2014 Weightlifting Competition Manager

Greg Warnecke, Head of Sport of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee reports Ms. Moira Lassen has been appointed as the new Weightlifting Competition Manager, effective from 06 January 2014. This follows the recent resignation of Matthew Curtain who has recently been appointed as the first-ever Director of Sport with the Commonwealth Games Federation. Matthew finishes his tenure with Glasgow 2014 on 15 January 2014. ‘As an active member of the IWF Executive Board (and Chair of the Women’s Commission), Moira comes to her new role with extensive management expertise, strong technical skills and a work ethic beyond reproach. Equally, I pay gratitude to the work undertaken thus-far by Matthew and wish him well in his new position’ said Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President. Upon the announcement of her appointment Ms. Lassen said ‘Naturally, I am excited to serve as the Weightlifting Competition Manager for Glasgow 2014. With the memories of my daughter Jeane winning Gold back in 2006 still as fresh as ever in my mind, I am committed to ensuring the athletes of the Commonwealth remain at the forefront of all our

Fatima Rummun passed away

It is with great sorrow that the IWF was informed about the death of Mrs. Fatima Rummun (MRI). Mrs. Rummun was one of the very few female National Federation leaders and technical official in the 90's. She worked hard to upgrade the sport of weightlifting in Mauritius and took an active part in the development of African weightlifting as well. Mrs. Rummun long suffered from a cancer which finally took over her health. On behalf of the Weightlifting Family, the IWF wants to present its deepest condolences to the Mauritius Weightlifting Federation, to Mr. Bhollah Poorun, Mrs. Rummun’s son and her