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IWF recognizes IOC decision on suspension of the Iraq NOC and Federations

The IWF has received and recognized the IOC's decision on the provisional suspension of the National Olympic Committee and - among others - the Weightlifting Federation of Iraq.Quote: The Iraqi National Olympic Committee is suspended on a provisional basis ? with all the consequences provided by the Olympic Charter - as a protective measure due to the interferences from the Iraqi government authorities. The IOC does not recognize any 'interim committee' nor any other officers appointed by the Iraqi government authorities to supervise the NOCI or the Iraqi Olympic and sports movement and reiterates its full support to the office bearers of the NOCI and Olympic and sports movement who were legitimately elected. The IOC - together with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Iraqi NOC office bearers who were legitimately elected - will invite representatives of the Iraqi government authorities in order to analyse the situation and find appropriate solutions for the Iraqi NOC and the Iraqi Olympic and sports movement as a whole, including the athletes, provided that the principles and rules laid down in the Olympic Charter will always be strictly observed, in particular the autonomy of the Iraqi NOC and the Olympic and sports movement. The IOC will continue to look for ways to help Iraqi athletes, although the situation created by the Iraqi government authorities makes the task very difficult.UnquoteIn the case of weightlifting, it means that the participation of the one athlete (quota obtained by Iraq) in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is subject to the further development of the above situation.Look for updates on

IWF to launch issue of International Referee Licences 2009-2013 this September

On the eve of the Junior World Championships in Cali, the IWF Executive Board met and decided on a couple of important issues. Among these were that the Federation will launch the issue of International Referee Licence stamps for the next Olympic cycle, i.e. 2009-2013 already around September this year.Considering the recent dramatic decline of the rate of the US dollar, the new Referee Licences will be sold at:US$100 for a Category Two licenceUS$200 for a Category One licence.These rates were unanimously ratified by the delegates of the IWF General Congress.At the same time, the IWF Coaching Licence Certification project will also be implemented. The relevant will be posted on the website. The Fee for such Licence (also for a 4-year term) has been fixed at US$200 as

IOC gives eligibility to lifters changing citizenship

The IOC has given its approval to two ex-Cameroon weightlifters, Daniel Koum Koum and Simplice Ribouem to participate for their new country, Australia - if selected to the Olympic team. Both lifters stayed in Australia after the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.Another lifter whose new NOC adherence has been approved by the International Olympic Committe, however, enters the Beijing Games with medal hopes. This is Matthias Steiner, who took part in the 2004 Athens Games as an Austrian, but has since turned a German citizen. Representing Germany, he has already won the Good Luck Beijing Olympic Test Event and the snatch event at the 2008 European

Olympic Qualification nearing its end

After the finalization of the anti-doping controls of the Continental Qualification Events, the IWF published the list of NOCs having obtained quota to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Such quota could be won in the 2006 and 2007 World Championships, as well as the 5 Continental Championships held in 2008.Olympic Qualification by

IWF affiliates new members

Before the start of the 2008 Junior World Championships in Cali, Colombia, the Committees and the Executive Board met and took some important decisions.Three new members were accepted to the IWF: Guinea, New Caledonia and Kosovo.In the middle, the representative of New Caledonia (NCL), flanked by Paul Coffa, OWF General Secretary and the delegate from Cook

Doping tests around the Beijing Olympic Games

According to a recent communication from the International Olympic Committee, any anti-doping testing between 27 July and 24 August 2008 involving athletes eligible to take part in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are to be considered as "Olympic tests".Furthermore, there is a change in TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemptions) procedures: any TUE requests for the above period will have to be sent to the IOC Medical Commission by 6 July 2008 at the latest.All TUE applications during the period of the Olympic Games will be processed by the IOC TUE