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Press Statement on the IWF Constitution Reform Congress

The draft constitution was discussed at length at the IWF Constitution Reform Congress which was held remotely on 30 June 2021. A majority of the Member Federations agreed that the draft constitution should serve as the basis for the IWF's future governance. As far as the fight against doping is concerned, the proposals submitted by WADA and the ITA were approved with the required majority of 2/3. In view of the abundant material to be considered, the Congress has been adjourned and will reconvene so as to be completed before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic

Technical Officials PowerPoint Presentations Are Now Available in Spanish

The IWF Technical Committee has developed several PowerPoint presentations, explaining in a simple and clear way different topics related to the Technical Officials work. It is a powerful tool for improving their performance, but for non-English speaking people it is sometimes difficult to understand. The Pan-American and South American Weightlifting bodies have added in their joint E-Learning Platform a new tool for Spanish speaking people: a Spanish version of all the PowerPoint presentations developed by the Technical Committee. In this way, the excellent job of the Technical Committee can be spread, becoming useful for more people within the weightlifting community. To respect the original documents, both versions (English and Spanish) are published together. All the information can be downloaded from the E-Learning Platform (www.pesasamerica.org) or the website of the South American Confederation (http://sudamericanapesas.org/presentaciones-comite-tecnico-iwf-en-espanol/) More information about E-Learning Platform at

Press Statement on the Positions of Mr Nicolae VLAD and Dr Hasan AKKUS on the IWF Executive Board

After the publication of the ITA investigation report, Nicolae VLAD (ROU) and Dr Hasan AKKUS (TUR) have both stepped aside from their respective roles on the IWF Executive Board, pending completion of the processes related to the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) that have been asserted against them. In both cases, the ADRVs were asserted following a recent investigation by the International Testing Agency (ITA) that had been mandated by the IWF. Mr. Vlad also resigned from his position as Technical Delegate for Tokyo 2020. Neither will travel to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and their accreditations are being

2021 IWF Youth World Championships – Jeddah (KSA)

After the decision of the IWF Executive Board, regarding the switch between host countries of the 2021 Junior and Youth World Championships, Jeddah (KSA) will organize this year's IWF Youth World Championships between 03-12 October 2021. The program of the Competition is planned as follows: 03-04 October 2021 IWF Executive Board Meeting 05-12 October 2021 Competition As usual, entry submission for the event will be via the E-Entry platform and deadline for the preliminary entries (LONG LIST) is 5 July 2021. Since 2018 it is mandatory to register all athletes before the preliminary entry deadline in case of World Championships (Youth/Junior/Senior). For this purpose, Federations are able to register up to 20 athletes per gender even though the final number of competitors can only be a maximum of 10 athletes (+ 2 Reserves) per gender, which shall be selected by the Final Entry deadline (05 September 2021). Athletes shall also comply with the Anti-Doping requirements and rules of the IWF in regards to World Championships as follows: In accordance with article 5.5.16 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules 2021 whereabouts information of the athletes shall be submitted at minimum three (3) months prior to the event. Athletes who wish to compete at the 2021 IWF Youth World Championships shall submit their whereabouts information for the period outlined above at the latest on 05 JULY 2021. An Athlete who does not comply with this provision is not eligible to compete at the 2021 IWF Youth World Championships. More information on the Regulations and Forms can be

IWF Acknowledges ITA Investigation Report, And Ready To Take Immediate Action

Following today’s publication of the report by the International Testing Agency (ITA) into extensive past anti-doping rule violations in weightlifting, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has acknowledged the findings. As noted in the report, the ITA’s investigation and the various investigations that preceded it have enabled the IWF to get to the bottom of past misconduct, ensure the athletes and officials involved are dealt with appropriately and turn the page. Like the report of Professor Richard McLaren and his team, the ITA’s investigation found that the inadequacies, mismanagement and apparent subversion of anti-doping processes within weightlifting in the past have become historical. Notably, the outsourcing of the IWF’s anti-doping programme to the ITA has allowed for weightlifters and those who support them to have full confidence in a professional and independent approach to clean weightlifting. “Within days of me being appointed as Interim President of the IWF, General Secretary Mohammed Jalood and I signed a multi-year extension to our partnership with the ITA. I said then that the IWF is committed to ensuring the ITA is fully empowered to carry out investigations, with both a clear mandate and adequate resources. The outcome speaks for itself. The IWF is very grateful to the ITA for its diligence in this matter,” said IWF Interim President Dr. Michael Irani. Under the agreement signed on 22 October 2020, the ITA is responsible for independently delivering the IWF’s anti-doping programme, including the investigation and prosecution of all anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs). Meanwhile, the IWF is advised by an independent Anti-Doping Commission comprised of independent experts. The ITA’s report brings resolution in 146 previously unresolved cases over the 2009-2019 period. Regrettably, in 29 cases, it has proven too late to prosecute violations that were not handled in a timely manner for reasons ranging from administrative incompetence to coverups. “I am appalled by what is asserted to have been a complete betrayal of weightlifting and weightlifters by those who had been entrusted with the sport’s leadership,” said IWF President Dr. Michael Irani. “While the IWF is thankful for the ITA’s clear acknowledgement that such craven acts could not be repeated under its independent results management process, thanks to the arrangements in place for some time now, today’s report shows just how dark the dark days of our sport were. To all those athletes who were cheated of the opportunity to compete fairly, I would like to offer the IWF’s unreserved apology.” A number of ADRVs have already resulted from the various investigations that preceded that published by the ITA today. The report of ITA can be found here. The IWF has already implemented sanctions in these cases. The IWF is fully committed to implementing any further sanctions that are confirmed as a result of the ADRVs asserted by the ITA against former and current officials. Over the course of the ITA investigation, it transpired that some IWF and national Member Federation officials had themselves also committed ADRVs of complicity and tampering in relation to certain cases. In the scope of the ITA’s mandate to vigorously pursue all potential ADRVs under the IWF’s jurisdiction, the ITA has thus asserted ADRVs against current and former IWF officials Tamas Ajan, former IWF President, Nicolae Vlad IWF Vice-President and current President of the Romanian Weightlifting Federation and Hassan Akkus, President of the European Weightlifting Confederation and former President of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation. The exact charges and evidence against these three officials are detailed in the ITA report and include covering up, delaying and obstructing results management for certain athletes that committed ADRVs in order for them to participate in high-level sporting events such as the Olympic Games and collusion to avoid potential fines and suspensions. The IWF would like to thank the ITA for its work in carrying out the current investigation. The IWF would also like to reiterate its thanks to all those who conducted or contributed to the previous investigations. The IWF encourages all those with knowledge of doping in weightlifting, whether historical or current, to use the confidential whistleblower reporting mechanisms of REVEAL and / or SPEAK

Another Successful Opening for the Oceania’s Premier League

For the second year running, the Oceania Weightlifting Federation has started its Online League Tournament with the opening round on the first weekend of June. The League, which resemble football, are being held online, not only in response to the pandemic but for convenience and accessibility’s sake. The idea for this League Tournament format came from the OWF’s General Secretary Paul Coffa, who explains: “It was implemented last year (2020) due to the fact that all competitions in our region were cancelled because of the pandemic. The only way that I could get the region to compete was to initiate an online tournament “. Different countries connect once a month to lift together and many have seen this initiative as a way to boost that competitive spirit that has been on pause due to the pandemic. “Last year we had nine rounds with nineteen countries competing.  We also had prize money given by the Australian Federation with the first prize being $10,000” Coffa says. The only difference between this year's League and last year's is that this time, the Oceania Weightlifting Federation has decided to separate the League into three groups. This modification has come about after seeing how some countries participated more than others, with some struggling to find enough weightlifters. This way, the Premier League has eight countries, each represented by a total of 16 lifters made up of 8 men and 8 women. There are eight rounds and competitions take place once a month. League A features teams with limited numbers. Seven selected countries each compete with a total of 8 lifters made up of 4 men and 4 women, participating every month. And finally, countries with fewer representatives will also have a place in the competition and they are registered in League B. This third group will begin lifting on the 3rd of July with five teams comprising of 4 lifters each team. That is 2 men and 2 women. They will have seven rounds of competition. “After the enormous success of this League tournament last year, all the member countries were looking forward to this year again” the Oceanic General Secretary says. The first weekend was very well supported. It was held on June the 4th & 5th and more than 170 weightlifters competed in the AUD$80,000 League Tournament. The first round produced some world class performances, particularly from the Samoan team. First Round Highlights The Premier League saw lifters from Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Samoa taking part. Sanele Mao from Samoa registered a 406kg total, and Don Opeloge in the 96kg body weight category, 391kg. The Samoans had been training extremely hard leading up to this first round. One of the highlights of the Samoan team was 19-year-old John Tafi in the 67kg category totaling a massive 306kg and defeating for the first time his Samoan teammate Nevo Ioane who totaled his best ever, 303kg. Samoa defeated Australia by 371.40kg. There was also a great battle between New Zealand and the young team from Nauru. Some outstanding performances from both teams took place, with New Zealand winning in the end by a mere 17.58kg. Team Kiribati defeated an incredibly young team from Papua New Guinea by 430.60kg. Papua New Guinea entered many new recruits in this first round and could not overcome the strength of the Kiribati team. The Solomon Islands and Fiji match was a close battle with the Solomon Islands coming out as winners by 112.68kg. It was also nice to see the return of Fiji lifter Apolonia Vaivai. League A also kicked off at the same time as the Premier League with seven countries competing against each other, this time Guam, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas, New Caledonia, Tonga and Tahiti, with Marshall Islands having a bye in the first round. There were some real promising results in League A. Tahiti for the first time competing with a full team, produced some excellent results from new lifters which Oceania has not seen before. They defeated CNMI (Northern Marianas) by 141Kg. This first round also saw some new names coming from the Northern Marianas, and will be a great start for them in preparation for the Mini Pacific Games to be held in Saipan next year in June. There was another great battle between Guam and New Caledonia. Guam in the end came out as winners but both teams produced some amazing results. Cook Islands competed for the first time as a team in the League A tournament. There were some great results but unfortunately Tonga did not enter a team for this round and therefore Cook Islands took full points. According to Mr Coffa, this initiative works thanks to a great internal organization with its own process “The Leagues are organised by the OWF, and each country runs its competition each month from their federations.  The results are then sent to me, I collate all data within 48 hours from the time the competition finishes and then I disseminate to everyone in the region”. Oceanic weightlifters are preparing again for the second round of competitions that will be taking place on the first weekend of July, which will include League B. The OWF is also getting ready for its 2021 OWF ONLINE CUP scheduled for June 26th & 27th, which will be another competition held online and likely a success, with 45 lifters from 12 Oceanic countries competing for the