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1000th record set with an Eleiko barbell

According to Eleiko's notes the correct number of world records set with an Eleiko barbell is 999. The 1000th record was set! HRISTOV Valentin from Azerbaijan competing in the 56kg bodyweight category broke the Youth World Record in the Clean & Jerk with 154 kg at the World Championships in Paris. The Chinese missed the chance as they did not know about this special award. To remember to this historical moment and honour the lifter, he will receive "The Eleiko 1000th World Record Award" which consists of a complete Eleiko barbell set, worth 3300 EUR. Congratulations! When he was asked what he will do with the barbells he received as his gift from Eleiko, Valentin said he will keep the barbells and it will decorate his

Interview with Frederic Donze, WADA Director, European Office and IF Relations

IWF had a great step forward Q: Close to one hundred countries perform on the platform of the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships in Paris, the IWF grabbed the opportunity to launch its Say No!To Doping campaign with its slogan: Lift CLEAN and Jerk. A: I think it is a very positive thing that the IWF have adopted this program. WADA launched this campaign two years ago together with International Ice hockey Federation and now we have 13 partners including some international federations like hockey, football, triathlon, just to name some of them. United Kingdom recently launched a campaign called 'Win Clean' and they are part of the Say No! to doping anti doping campaign as well. We are quite happy that IWF have contacted us to follow the campaign. We are working closely together because education as we all know is a key part of the fight against doping. We think it is a great step forward - Frederic Donzé, WADA Director, European Office and IF Relations says. Q: It is really positive to see some big stars representing the campaign because they are all icons for the other athletes, for the young children. What do you think of weightlifting hero, three times Olympic Champion Pyrros Dimas? A: It is very important that a caliber like Dimas supports the campaign. He is a strong symbol and through his personality and mentality a strong message is sent to the weightlifting community. Q: What makes WADA really satisfied about its results? When do you consider your work successful? A: I think that doping will never disappear as it is related to human nature. You always find cheaters in life. Since WADA has been created since 1999 the world anti doping community has really progressed tremendously. But let's not being naive we always need to do more and we always need improvement in our fight against doping to actually catch as many cheaters as possible. We certainly hope by working together there will be really on day with minimum doping in sport. But doping free sport is an utopia. Q: What are the next steps ahead of WADA? A: We have always said that the world anti doping code is not set in stone. We knew world anti doping code had to improved as time was passing. There was the first revision in 2006 and 2007 which gave birth to a new code which took place in January 2009 and now there will be another revision of the world anti-doping code starting next year. The new code will be approved at the time of the 4th world conference in doping in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2013. We really encourage any individual, any organization, and any national federation in the weightlifting family to take part in this process. This work is done very openly and transparently. We hope that the weightlifting family will contribute a lot. Q: At IWF Congress the doping control results of weightlifting were displayed by Mónika Ungár. What do these numbers say to a real expert like you? A: Unfortunately you can interpret results the way you want. Some people always ask us do you think there is more doping or less doping based simply on numbers.The fight against doping is so comprehensive and complex that it is never possible to say: look you have more cases that means you have more doping involved. May be have become more efficient in your way fighting doping. May be you have less cases but it may say that education and information helped to reduce the numbers. So really I think the numbers presented by Mónika Ungár say that IWF is conducting a comprehensive fight against

British weightlifting has eight competitors to compete in the World Championships in Paris

Peter Kirkbride, 23 and from Kilmarnock, was due to compete in Paris but has withdrawn due to an ankle injury sustained at the Commonwealth Championships in October. British Weightlifting's Performance Manager Fiona Lothian said: "This is a great opportunity for the GB athletes to put down a marker for London 2012 selection, the progress the athletes have made over the last few months means we are now in a position to field a much bigger team than we sent to the Worlds 2010." The Team:Londoner Joanne Calvino, 31and Halil Zorba, 23 trains at Crystal Palace National Sports CentreGareth Evans, 25 and from Holyhead, Wales. Trains at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in LeedsJack Oliver, 20 and from London. Trains at the HPC in LeedsNatasha Perdue, 36 and from Swansea. Trains at the HPC in LeedsHannah Powell, 18 and from Birmingham. Trains at the HPC in LeedsZoe Smith, 17 and from London. Trains at the HPC in LeedsBen Watson, 21 and from Didcot in Oxfordshire. Trains at the HPC in Leeds

Lift CLEAN and Jerk; the IWF Anti-Doping campaign launched

WADA developed its Outreach Program to unite both athletes and their entourage in anti-doping and to project the Say NO! To Doping message. Since February 2011, approximately 50 organizations have signed up to the Outreach Program. The IWF joined this WADA Program - the Bronze Outreach Level - in July 2011 with the aim of reaching out to the weightlifting community in major Anti-Doping issues. Since 2009, the IWF runs with great success it's educational and awareness program providing useful tools and knowledge in technical and Anti-Doping related fields. As an impressive number of countries - more than one hundred - will perform on the platform of the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships in Paris, France, the IWF seizes the opportunity to introduce its Say No!To Doping campaign with its slogan: Lift CLEAN and Jerk! At present, only 13 organizations have adopted the Say No!To Doping campaign, and time has come for the IWF to join this strong awareness program. The IWF is passing the message to athletes and their entourage that doping is no longer tolerated in the weightlifting arena. To bring it closer to reality, the IWF chose two weightlifting ICONS • Olympic Champion in 1992, 1996, 2000 and Multiple World Champion Mr. Pyrros Dimas (GRE)• Olympic Champion in 2004 and Multiple World Champion Ms. Pawina Thongsuk (THA) They were introduced during the International Weightlifting Federation's Congress at the 2011 World Championships in order to show that you can Lift CLEAN. Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President pointed out the importance to "communicate the message to all stakeholders involved. Education and prevention about risks and consequences of doping should reach all athletes and at the same time their entourage - coaches, officials and all those willing to eradicate doping from sport. With this campaign, the IWF found another efficient way to spread the message". At the Say No!To Doping Campaign Stand a Quiz will be played by all visitors that is available on 9 languages and printed material, such as the At-A-Glance series - available in 3 languages: English, Russian and Spanish - and the WADA Prohibited List, will provide important information to all interested in regard to their rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping

Weightlifting off to a strong start

The Women's 48 kilogram and Men's 56 kilogram weight classes group A will both compete for medals today. Women's 48 kg The line up looks strong however Turkish Olympic, World and six times European champion Nurcan Taylan announced not to start. Massive Turkish media group arrived to Paris to report specially on her is very disappointed about last minute decision to withdraw due to her small knee injury. She cannot defend her World Championships title. China's Youth Olympic Games winner Tian Yuan may have a shot at the gold medal. She finished third a year ago in Antalya and won Asian Championships and IWF Grand Prix this year.Lifters from Moldova and Poland will bid for medals. Christina Iovu junior European Champion returns to 48 category after several visits to 53 kg this year. Polish Karpinska won European U 23 Championships in Bucharest and ready to continue her succesful saeson (53 kg). The most experienced in the field is Italian Genny Caterina Pagliaro who became a professional soldier in Italian Army after signing a 4 years contract. Men's 56 kg Chinese Wu Jingbiao is ready to defend his World Championships title won in Antalya. After winning IWF Grand Prix and Asian Championships in China this year he must display his capacity outside his home land. Another possible medalist is his compatriot Zhao Chaojun an absolute newcomer given a chance to participate at World Championships at 23. The Chinese tandem is challenged by Khalil El Maoui junior World Champion of 2008 who has Olympic experience as

IWF Congress in Paris

After the two days Executive Board Meeting, the IWF held its Congress in Paris, France.Reports of the IWF President, General Secretary and IWF Committees were approved. Dr. Tamás Aján thanked the effective and productive involvement and engagement of the 3 Committees, their Chairmen and Members. Dates and places of the 2012 Continental Championships and Olympic Qualification Events were announced as follows:28.03.2012- 02.04.2012 African Championships Nairobi, KEN06.04.2012- 16.04.2012 European Championships Antalya, TUR23.04.2012- 30.04.2012 Asian Championships Pyeongtaek, KOR06.05.2012- 18.05.2012 Junior World Championships & Pan-American Championships Antigua Guatemala, GUA22.05.2012- 26.05.2012 Oceania Championships & Commonwealth Championships Apia, SAM As tradition on the IWF Congresses, the following awards were given: Weightlifting Hall of FameKakhi Kakhiashvili (GEO) - During his career Kakhi represented USSR, Georgia and Greece. He is one of the four athletes who have won three Olympic titles. Róbert Nagy (HUN) - Former lifter of the Hungarian National Weightlifting Team, Róbert Nagy has excelled as the Technology expert of the International Weightlifting Federation. Besides his membership in the IWF Scientific, later Technical Committees since 1992, he invented and developed the IWF's world famous Competition Management System. For their longtime services, the IWF Executive Board awarded the IWF Honorary Life Vice President Title to Philippe Saint-Cyr (CAN) and Myrddin John (WAL). Award of MeritAleksandr Putsov (UKR)Alain Lunzenfichter (FRA) was thanked for over three decades of contribution to the Weightlifting Sport. Previous President of AIPS Weightlifting Commission, Alain was also Chairmen of the IWF Press Commission and resigns with these