News

Renewed Optimism in Guadalajara

Pan-American Games organizers say that while minor work needs to be done to complete several venues, they are optimistic all will be ready to go when the games open on Friday. The Pan-American Games, which are expected to attract about 6,000 athletes, have been plagued by delays over the last year. Officials, speaking at a news conference, said the venue for track and field was nearly complete and was expected to be inspected this week with certification likely to follow. Mario Vazquez Raña, president of the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA), acknowledged that the preparation for the games has been plagued by problems. "You know very well that we had a lot of problems with the organizing committee," Vazquez Raña told. "Five or six months ago we began to see light at the end of the tunnel. … A year ago it did not seem the games would take place in Guadalajara." The home of weightlifting competition The weightlifting Forum with a capacity for 1000 people, was opened in May 2010. It is an auditorium located in the Paradero CODE Sports Unit. It has an official competition platform which is complemented with 32 warming-up platforms for weightlifting, as well as a massage, jacuzzi and dressing room

WADA makes changes to enhance reporting of anti-doping statistics

WADA has introduced changes to its International Standard for Testing (IST) that will improve the Agency's annual reporting of statistics in 2012 and beyond. The changes, which were approved by WADA's Executive Committee on September 17 and will come into force on January 1, 2012, will have a positive impact on the operations of all Anti-Doping Organizations. In addition to the IST changes, the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) will be amended so that all results, including negatives, will be reported in the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS), WADA's clearing house of global anti-doping information. Under Articles 14.4 and 14.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA is required to collect and publish a global summary of all anti-doping statistics. Improvements to the collection of statistics will also allow a better assessment of WADA's new directive to ADOs for an increase in the amount of blood sampling. For more info click

Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation Annual Congress

Chaired by President, Hon. Vinson Detenamo (NRU) and General Secretary Paul Coffa (AUS), the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF) has held its Annual Congress in Cape Town, RSA on Sunday, 10 October 2011. As a prelude to the Commonwealth Senior, Junior & Youth Championships (incorporating the African Senior Championships), the CWF leaders welcomed 19 participating nations, which also included the attendance of IWF President, Dr. Tamas Ajan; IWF Vice President, Sam Coffa; WFA President, Klahed Mhalhel and IWF Board Member, Dato Ong Poh Eng. The congress discussed numerous matters including detailed strategies to further reinforce its position as an active and progressive partner of the continental weightlifting framework. Operationally, the congress confirmed the 2012 Championships would be held in Apia, Samoa (in conjunction with the Oceania Championships) whilst the 2013 Championships were awarded to the Maltese Weightlifting Federation. ‘This is the first time the Commonwealth Championships are the being held in Africa and so, its pleasing to record, that inline with the CWF's rotation policy, all continental regions are being given the opportunity to host this significant event' said Mr. Paul Coffa. Organised by the Kevin du Plooy, RSA Weightlifting Federation President, the Commonwealth & African Championships are being held at the Centre of Good Hope. The four-day competition comprises of 148 athletes. You can find the IWF live scoreboard by the following link:

Hans Zdrazila celebrates his 70th birthday

Olympic Champion, World Champion and World Records holder Hans Zdra�ila was a significant lifter in category 75 kg and 82,5 kg for Banik Ostrava and RH Praha. He was a member of the national team from 1960-1972. 10 times champion of Czechoslovakia (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, and 1971). Interesting enough he could never achieve top position in Europe, in 1964 and 1965 he took second places. In 1964 he became Olympic and world champion.His Tokyo Olympic result was 445 kg (130, 137,5, 177,5) in category 75 kg. Three times broke world record in category until 75 kg - clean and jerk 171,5 kg, 172,5 kg (1963), 177,5 kg (1964) and eight times broke Olympic Record. During his sport career he achieved above 100 national records. The Czech Weightlifting Association will inaugurate Hans Zdrazila to the Hall of Fame CWA and present him memory gift during 3rd round of women weightlifting league competition on 29/10/2011 in

CAS decision

Lausanne, 6 October 2011 - the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued the following decision: "The IOC Executive Board's June 27, 2008 decision* prohibiting athletes who have been suspended for more than six months for an anti-doping rule violation from participating in the next Olympic Games following the expiration of their suspension is invalid and unenforceable." * The International Olympic Committee's Rule 45, also called the Six-Month Rule or the "Osaka Rule" bared athletes with six-month suspensions from the next

Up-to-date info regarding the 2011 IWF WWC PARIS

Following the receipt of the Preliminary Entries and considering the significant number of participants expected, the Organizing Committee would like to inform all NFs as follows: 1) Any delegation exceeding 30 members is kindly asked to transfer 100 % of the participation fees for the whole delegation latest by 15 October 2011. Failing to receive this advance payment the Organizing Committee cannot guarantee the requested accommodation. 2) The participating delegations must accept the accommodation offered by the Organizing Committee for a minimum stay of 3 nights. 3) The Organizing Committee is happy to offer a special price for those interested in entering the Disney® Village. To benefit from the special price, you have to contact the Organizing Committee before today, October 6th . 4) We kindly remind all National Federations that the deadline for the Final Entries is the 1st of October 2011! As an exception, the Organizing committee may not guarantee to accommodate people who have not sent their entries after today October 6th. For further information regarding the event please visit www.paris2011.com where you can subscribe to the Newsletter of the event, as well as www.iwf.net