News

IWF Women’s Commission – First Ever Female Focus Webinar

IWF Women's Commission will host the first ever Female Focus Webinar on February 5, 2021, at 21.00 Lausanne time. The first presenter will be Ph candidate Kimberly Santabarbara, M.S., CSCS, who will lecture from Auckland, New Zealand, on the topic Strength Training and the Menstrual Cycle. The next lecturer will be Head Coach at CHFP Weightlifting Cara Heads Slaughter, M.A., OLY, and USA Weightlifting International Coach, whose topic will answer questions to those wondering about Women Coaching Men. The webinar will close with a presentation by Olympian Meg Stone, Director of the Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education at East Tennessee State University. Her topic will be Training Methodology for Women Weightlifters. IWF Women's Commission Chair Karoliina Lundahl will act as the moderator, and on the panel IWF Women's Commission members Dr Heather Allison and Neroli King as well as IWF Athletes' Commission Chair Sarah Davies and IWF Executive Board Memember Pyrros Dimas. The IWF invites everyone interested to join this free webinar.

Clarification on the latest IOC Statement on IWF

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) notes with deep concern the recent news that raised serious concerns about an apparent weakening of the anti-doping rules by the IWF seeking to change these rules approved by the IOC as part of its qualification system for Tokyo 2020 with the qualifications already in place and without any consultation with the IOC. Faced with these public considerations, the IWF is obliged to make some clarifications. The IWF categorically denies any action that violates the standards set by the IOC. ·       There has been no change to the Olympic Qualification System and therefore there was no need to consult with the IOC. ·       Nations suspended from participating in the Tokyo 2020 Games remain suspended. ·       Nations that were imposed reductions in quota places as a result of doping problems continue with those impositions for the Tokyo 2020 Games. Other nations found guilty of violating doping rules through retrospective analysis of samples will be sanctioned with the loss of quota places according to the Olympic Qualification System for the Tokyo 2020 Games in accordance with the policy for the effective fight against doping. The IWF looks forward to providing all the clarifications requested by the IOC in this regard as its members continue to be immersed in the reform and governance process and new leadership of the world weightlifting in line with the objectives suggested by the

EWF Webinar – Return to European Competition

On 6th February 2021, the European Weightlifting Federation will hold a webinar on the return to European competitions. The webinar will be delivered via Zoom and is organized for Technical Officials, Coaches and also Athletes. Topics will cover: IWF Developments; IWF Competition Rules and Regulations; EWF Competition COVID-19 personal protection and safe distancing. Presenters will include: IWF Interim President - Dr Michael Irani (GBR) IWF General Secretary - Mohammed Jalood (IRQ) EWF President - Dr Antonio Urso (ITA) Lecturers EWF General Secretary - Dr Hasan Akkus (TUR) EWF Chairman Medical Committee - Tryggve Duun (NOR) EWF Chairwoman Technical Committee - Tina Beiter (DEN) EWF Chairman Coaching R&S Committee - Colin Buckley (IRL) Guest IWF Chairwoman Athletes Commission - Sarah Davis (GBR) Details of the Webinar Date: Saturday 6th February 14.00 (CET) Central European Time Language: English with translation in Russian and Spanish Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/6716112388322/WN_VlvcfyP_SRGFtuh4Oj2lkQ Description: COVID-19 is a pandemic where current information highlights the unique needs and challenges that necessitate new health and safety protocols. The fundamental principle of the EWF is to protect all participants at competition by respecting the recommendations and protocols set by the Host Federation, Host Government, the EWF and the

Kosovo Weightlifting Federation – Electoral Congress

On 17 January 2021 Kosovo Weightlifting Federation held its Electoral Congress. The Elections were held through the online platform of ZOOM under the supervision of Kosovo Olympic Committee where 15 delegates from the three regions of Kosovo where present. The newly elected Executive Board consists of: Dr. Astrit Hasani, President Arian Zogu, General Secretary Vigan Sekiraca, Member Blerim Kabashaj, Member Yll Boshnjaku, Member According to the KWF constitution the President with the approval of the Executive Board in the next meeting will appoint two (2) Board Members where at least one of them shall be women. The electoral congress also elected Hamit Beqiri as Chairman of Technical Committee and Nita Gjikolli as Chairwoman of Medical Committee. In addition, Bashkim Muhaxheri, Agnesa Maxharri, and Djellza Boshnjaku where elected as members of the Supervisory Council. Source: Kosovo Weightlifting

IWF Expands Scope Of Governance Reform, Adjusts Dates For Constitutional Congress

The IWF Executive Board decided to expand the scope of governance reform and adjusted the date of its forthcoming Constitutional Congress, to accommodate this more ambitious scope for positive change. In place of the constitutional amendments originally envisaged, the independent members of the Reform and Governance Commission have now proposed an entirely new document that replaces the current IWF Constitution. This approach has been welcomed by the IWF Executive Board. The IWF Constitutional Congress has therefore been pushed back to the revised dates of 29 and 30 April 2021.  "Based on a comprehensive look at the IWF's governance by the independent members of our Reform and Governance Commission, it became clear that amendments would not be enough to bring us up to the highest standards and meet the targets suggested to us by the IOC. Instead, complete revision is called for and that is what we will now deliver," said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani. "It will also be important to ensure our athletes and Member Federations have adequate time to review the comprehensive proposals and comment on them before they vote. Fortunately, the new timeline allows us to still achieve two critical objectives: providing Member Federations with a clear view of the future of IWF's governance while also meeting the IOC's call for comprehensive reform well in advance for post-Tokyo 2020." The IWF Electoral Congress is still planned for 26 and 27 March

IWF Welcomes ITA Prosecution of Weightlifting Anti-Doping Rule Violations

19 January 2021, Lausanne; The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) welcomed the news from the ITA (International Testing Agency) that it is prosecuting anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) against three weightlifters. The prosecutions follow investigations into doping within weightlifting by German broadcaster ARD, by Professor Richard McLaren on behalf of the ITA, and by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). “Placing our trust in the independent professionals of the ITA has been vital in restoring the credibility of weightlifting’s anti-doping efforts and the latest news is a further reminder that we are on the right track,” said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani. “The announcement of these prosecutions is a welcome development. There should be no place in our sport for doping.” In its release yesterday [https://ita.sport/], the ITA confirmed cases against Rattikan GULNOI (THA), Dumitru CAPTARI (ROU) and Nijat RAHIMOV (KAZ). The ADRV against Gulnoi is for prohibited substance abuse throughout her career. The ADRVs against Captari and Rahimov are for urine substitution in 2016. All the athletes are provisionally suspended pending resolution of their respective affairs. “The IWF is grateful to the ITA for this follow-up of the outstanding investigations and intelligence, resulting in the ADRVs announced today and with the understanding that further cases may be forthcoming,” continued Irani. “Empowering the ITA to continue working towards the protection of clean weightlifters and the promotion of clean weightlifting, with a renewed contract through to 2024, was an easy decision for us to make last October. Alongside the creation of an independent Disciplinary and Ethics Commission and comprehensive governance reform being prepared under independent legal leadership, the independent delivery of the IWF’s anti-doping programme amply demonstrates how we are writing a welcome new chapter in our sport’s