News

IWF appoints Eleiko as Sole Supplier for LA 2028 Olympic Games

The IWF is pleased to announce that Eleiko has been appointed as the Sole Supplier of Weightlifting equipment for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, taking place in Los Angeles, USA, in 2028. As part of this agreement, Eleiko will provide all competition, warm-up and training equipment used throughout the Olympic weightlifting programme at LA28, ensuring athletes compete using equipment that meets the highest standards of performance, safety, and precision. Mohammed Jalood, IWF President, stated: “Our International Federation and the entire weightlifting community is very happy with this appointment, as Eleiko has been for many decades a trusted and reliable partner. The quality of its equipment, the innovative technology, and the commitment of the entire team at Eleiko, are a solid guarantee that we will have a great Olympic competition in Los Angeles. The Games are the pinnacle of our activities and we feel extremely confident that doing this together with Eleiko, the sport of Weightlifting will once more show its attractiveness and beauty to the many thousands of spectators at the Peacock Theater, the prestigious site of our competition in LA, and to the millions of fans following the Olympic events in the five continents”. Erik Blomberg, CEO of Eleiko Group, said: “Eleiko is very excited to be appointed Sole Supplier of weightlifting equipment for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. The entire Eleiko team is fully dedicated to delivering an unforgettable Olympic experience for athletes, spectators, and organisers. This appointment builds on Eleiko’s long-standing partnership with the IWF and follows the recent renewal of Eleiko’s Tier 1 agreement as Official Barbell Supplier through the 2025–2028 Olympic cycle. Together, the IWF and Eleiko continue a collaboration spanning decades, united by a shared commitment to the growth, integrity, and future of weightlifting worldwide.” Precision-crafted strength equipment since 1957, Eleiko is headquartered in the Swedish city of Halmstad, where the company remains based today. Certified by the IWF in 1969, Eleiko has since been present at top-level competitions, including several editions of the Olympic Games. In 2011, Eleiko celebrated the 1,000th world record achieved with one of its bars. Today, Eleiko equipment for weightlifting, powerlifting, and strength and conditioning is used in competition venues, training facilities, and gyms in more than 180

IWF launches dedicated Athletes Commission webpage

In a significant step to enhance the visibility and impact of its Athletes Commission (AC), the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has launched a dedicated webpage for this key body within its main website, following an initiative led by the IWF Athletes Commission itself to strengthen communication and engagement with athletes worldwide. The new AC portal (ac.iwf.sport) is accessible directly from the IWF website via a newly added main menu item at the top of the homepage titled “AC Portal.” This microsite outlines the structure, mission, and objectives of the IWF Athletes Commission and serves as a central hub for sharing information on activities, events, and initiatives relevant to the global weightlifting community. Developed at the request of the Athletes Commission, the platform is designed to provide athletes with direct access to resources, updates, and key policy information. It also offers important insights into the IWF’s anti-doping framework, as well as tools dedicated to athletes’ health and wellbeing. “This is an important milestone for our sport and for our athletes,” said Forrester Osei, Chair of the IWF Athletes Commission. “The Athletes Commission identified the need for a direct and transparent channel of communication between lifters and the leadership of the IWF, and this portal is the result of that initiative.” “This platform gives us a concrete tool to fulfil our mission,” Mr Osei added. “It will provide our community with valuable resources and information that will help athletes perform better - not only on the competition platform, but also in their personal lives.” Looking ahead, the Athletes Commission is eager to see how the platform develops, particularly in the lead-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “We thank everyone who supported and contributed to turning this Athletes Commission initiative into reality. Their commitment will help make the IWF and the sport of weightlifting stronger on a global scale,” Mr Osei concluded. As a dynamic and evolving space designed to engage lifters worldwide, the Athletes Commission warmly welcomes suggestions and feedback to help enrich and update the portal’s

New rules for lifters from RUS and BLR at IWF junior and youth events

The IWF Executive Board decided to allow, without previous vetting and with the capacity of fully displaying their respective national symbols, the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in its junior and youth events. This rule will become effective at the upcoming editions of the IWF World Junior Championships, from May 2-8 in Ismailia (EGY), and at the IWF World Youth Championships, from July 5-11 in Cali (COL). According to the IWF rules, the Youth age group category includes athletes aged 13-17, while Junior lifters are aged from 15 to 20 years old. This follows the most recent decisions by the IOC on this matter, namely during its EB meeting on December 9-10, 2025 and the Olympic Summit on December

Happy Birthday Sam Coffa!

On his passport, the official name is Salvatore Coffa, but the entire weightlifting world knows him as Sam Coffa. Today, he celebrates his 90th birthday and the entire IWF community sends him its warmest wishes and regards. Happy Birthday Sam! And what a life it has been so far! Despite a successful career as an athlete, coach, manager, official and administrator, the first years of his life were however modest, within a Sicilian family experiencing the difficulties and challenges caused by World War II. Born in Ferla (Sicily, Italy) January 15, 1936, Coffa emigrated with the family to Australia in 1952, in search of better horizons and opportunities. He will quickly integrate the community in Hawthorn (suburbs of Melbourne), by practicing and developing weightlifting in the local club. As an athlete, he progresses quickly, and after acquiring Australian citizenship in 1959, he takes part in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, representing his new country. In the Japanese capital, his most vivid and emotional memory remains the opening ceremony, where he could, in his own words, “proudly march behind the Australian flag”. After his retirement as an athlete, he remains a pillar in the development of weightlifting in his town, in the state of Victoria, in Australia (he is presently at the helm of the national body), in the Commonwealth community, continental federation, and at the IWF level. Sam Coffa is the world reference in terms of the weightlifting rules, currently chairing the IWF Technical Committee – he was also a member of the IWF Executive Board for many years, where his highest position was of First Vice-President. Also involved with politics, he was Mayor of Hawthorn on two occasions, was awarded the membership of the Order of Australia, and was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2009. With the occasion of IWF’s 120-year celebration in 2025, we have published an exclusive interview with Sam Coffa, divided in three parts. Follow the links below to learn about the life of a man who devoted more than 70 years of his existence to the development of weightlifting worldwide: Interview Sam Coffa (Part 1): “We chose Australia because it was very far!” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 2): “I am good at convincing people, I can be quite persuasive” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 3): “From where do I take my energy? I just don’t stop!” – International Weightlifting

New WADA Prohibited List enforced since January 1, 2026

The IWF would like to kindly remind its National Member Federations that the new WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List (for Substances and Methods) is in force since January 1, 2026. This List designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.  Moreover, the 2026 Monitoring Program is also enforced from the beginning of this year. It includes substances that are not on the List, but that WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.    Comparing the former version of these documents and the 2026 updated ones, the major changes are: Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:    S1. Anabolic agents,  S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics,    S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and  S6. Stimulants.     The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same.  More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components.  The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited.   Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells.  It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption.  In order to better implement these rules, WADA has also important educational tools, namely available for Athletes and respective support personnel (ASP). Each year, WADA develops the Athlete and ASP Guide to the List, which is geared towards informing athletes and ASP of the specific changes they will need to onboard for the coming year. The Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2026 List can be accessed as an e-learning course on ADEL, or for anyone who benefits from a different format, a PDF copy of the course is also available.  RELEVANT DOCUMENTS/LINKS: 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods  2026 Monitoring Program 2026 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2026 List as an e-learning course on ADEL Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2026 List as a pdf course

IWF President New Year’s Message

Dear Members of the global weightlifting community, As we close an extraordinary year for our sport, I am delighted to reflect on 2025 - a historic year for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). This year we celebrated 120 years of the IWF, a remarkable milestone since our foundation on 10 June 10, 1905, in Duisburg, Germany. What began as a body to establish rules and organise competitions has grown into a global platform inspiring millions of athletes and fans worldwide. Importantly, earlier this year we held our electoral Congress, reaffirming our commitment to serve our athletes and National Federations and to protect their interests as we continue to grow our sport together. One of the highlights of the year was the IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, where nearly 500 athletes from 87 nations competed and set 40 new world records. The event showcased the heart of our sport: courage and unity. From Solfrid Koanda lifting her way to a world title on home soil, to Jon Mau, returning to competition after chemotherapy, and athletes from emerging nations showing remarkable progress, the World Championships captured the very best of weightlifting. The local community, volunteers and His Majesty King Harald V of Norway ensured the event’s success and created an unforgettable atmosphere for all. Weightlifting’s influence continues to grow globally. This year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved additional bodyweight categories for LA 2028 and we were confirmed in the core sports programme of the Centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games reflecting the sport’s ongoing development and recognition. Collaborations such as the weightlifting activation campaign in Manama, Bahrain, during the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final, brought the sport to new audiences and highlighted its appeal across regions and other sports. Beyond competitions, we strengthened the foundations of our Federation. The IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education seminars gathered over 320 participants from five continents, reinforcing our commitment to fair play. Our Board made key decisions on the IWF By-laws, International Coaching Licence programme, long-term partnerships and upcoming events, including preparations for the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, in 2026. The IOC has also had an important year, and we have greatly enjoyed working with the new President, Kirsty Coventry, and engaging with other members of the Olympic Movement. Initiatives like “Fit for the Future” help us promote Olympic values around the world and we look forward to continuing our support in this area. Looking ahead, the future of weightlifting is bright. In 2026, in addition to our Senior, Junior and Youth World Championships, we will see exciting championships across our continental confederations, and continued collaboration across the Olympic Movement as we prepare for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. We will continue to work hard to create opportunities for participation, inspiring communities and uniting people through the power of our sport, whether that is competitively or recreationally. To every athlete, coach, official, fan, partner and stakeholder who has contributed to the success of weightlifting in 2025: THANK YOU! I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026. Mohammed JaloodIWF