Press Release

IWF Executive Board meeting in Durres (ALB)

Under the leadership of the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, a hybrid IWF Executive Board meeting took place on March 30, 2023, with most of its members attending the IWF World Youth Championships in Durres (ALB).   The main decisions taken by the IWF Executive Board include:   - Approval of the IWF Development Programme for 2023, with a total of US$650,000 being distributed by National Federations across the five continents. Special attention was given to three members recently affected by natural disasters: Ecuador, Turkey, and Syria;   - Validation of the applications received for the constitution of an IWF Refugee Team – seven athletes (four women and three men) were accepted to be part of the programme. Moreover, six coaches have shown interest in being the technical responsible for the team;   - Acknowledgement of the excellent partnership with ITA (International Testing Agency), the independent body in charge of all anti-doping operations on behalf of the IWF. The Executive Board reiterates that this is a fundamental integrity topic and that a significant part of the IWF annual budget (around 35%) is allocated to the fight against cheating in our sport. Moreover, the IWF recognises that the number of cases was dramatically reduced, thus proving the efficiency and extent of the IWF/ITA cooperation;   - Following the recent IOC recommendation related to the eventual participation of Russia and Belarus at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Executive Board states:   “The IWF stands in solidarity with Ukraine and supports the continued IOC sanctions against Russia and Belarus.  We have taken note of the recommendation by the IOC Executive Board that sets out strict conditions under which athletes with Russian or Belorussian passports may be permitted to compete on an individual, neutral basis in competitions governed by International Federations. We will take time to review the guidance closely in order to determine whether and how it can be applied to weightlifting.  The IWF Executive Board will provide an update once the recommendation has been fully considered.  In the meantime, the protective measures introduced last year remain in place at this time.”   - Approval of a working group in charge of creating an “IWF Strategic Plan 2024-2032”;   - Appraisal of the commitment and valuable contribution of the IWF Athletes Commission (AC) for the development of the IF activities. The presence of three AC members on the Executive Board is deemed extremely useful, as it allows very direct and efficient communication between the IWF leadership and the IWF athletes;   - Discussion on the Constitution’s update, which must be formally approved by the IWF Congress next September with the occasion of the IWF World Championships. It was noted that no substantive changes are made – matters related to better readability and comprehension of the text are being revised by the IWF legal team;   - Approval of a rule establishing that Organisers of IWF events must do their utmost to make all financial transactions by wire transfer. Cash operations are only allowed in very exceptional circumstances and must be timely reported to the IWF, in the most detailed way possible;   - Approval of a “Sustainability Plan Report”, to be applied at the IWF events;   - Approval of a transgender policy and creation of a working group responsible for its implementation.   “We had a very fruitful meeting here in Durres and I take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues from the Executive Board for their valuable support to our activities and for their sense of unity and close cooperation. The IWF family is working together for the sake of our athletes, coaches and officials, and their respective National Member Federations. Many important topics were discussed and I am sure that progress will continue to be made in several areas: good governance, anti-doping policy, transparency and accountability, voice and representation of athletes, and organisation of IWF events,” stated the IWF President Mohammed Jalood at the end of the meeting. 

IWF Executive Board strengthens commitment to anti-doping during in-person meeting in Rome

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) hosted an in-person meeting in Rome and reinforced its commitment to making improvements across anti-doping, governance, and its Constitution.It was the first time that the IWF Executive Board has met in Italy and IOC Member and Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò attended the start of the meeting to welcome the members to the CONI Headquarters. The EB followed up on the work done since the last in-person meeting in July and the commitments that had been made, including looking into conducting due diligence of the IWF over the past ten years. Enhancing the IWF’s robust anti-doping programme was also among the key items on the agenda and saw a presentation from Chair of the IWF Anti-Doping Commission Rune Andersen and Director General of the International Testing Agency (ITA) Benjamin Cohen. Proposals to further enhance the programme included expanding investigative powers, improving education, introducing minimum testing requirements for member federations, and addressing resources in intelligence and investigation. Special attention was paid to how the IWF can further enhance education among athletes, coaches, and National Federations.Protecting clean athletes was a clear guiding principle in the proposal around updating the Olympic Qualification System for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 presented by IWF EB member Matthew Curtain, the IF Delegate for Paris 2024. The Executive Board agreed in principle to strengthen the Qualification System, subject to written approval from the IWF Athletes’ Commission. Following IWF Athletes’ Commission approval, the document will be sent to the IOC for final approval.The EB also approved in principle a strict measure to exclude countries where out-of-competition testing is not possible as a further step to supporting IWF’s zero tolerance on doping. The ITA with the Anti-Doping-Commission will look into the legal possibilities and prepare a proposal for the IWF EB as soon as possible.IWF President Mohammed Jalood said:“This meeting was very productive and engaging. The Executive Board is passionate about constantly improving weightlifting for the benefit of our clean athletes. The IWF’s anti-doping programme is recognised as being one of the strongest among Olympic sports but we always want to go further and find ways to enhance it to better promote clean sport. This commitment to progress was clear in our discussions on anti-doping but also extends to our Olympic Qualification System, reforms on governance and the development of weightlifting.”During the Executive Board meeting there were presentations from the IWF Committees and an update on the Athletes’ Commission elections, which will be held during the World Championships in December.IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso delivered an update on the World Championships which will serve as the first qualification event for Paris 2024, as well as the IWF World Youth Championships in Tirana, Albania. Further progress reports were presented on the IWF World Junior Championships Guadalajara, Mexico and IWF World Senior Championships in Riyadh, Saudi

Zacarias Bonnat elected as third athlete representative on IWF Executive Board

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Zacarias Bonnat of the Dominican Republic has been elected by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Athletes’ Commission (AC) as the third athlete representative on the IWF Executive Board. The IWF Constitution allows for up to three IWF AC delegates to serve on the Executive Board to ensure that the athlete voice is fully represented in the federation’s decision-making processes. Bonnat joins IWF AC Chair Forrester Christopher Osei and IWF Vice-Chair Dora Tchakounte as the three athlete representatives on the Executive Board. The vote was carried out online by the members of the IWF AC and will see Bonnat hold the position until the 2022 IWF Athletes' Commission election on 5-16 December 2022, in Bogota Colombia, on the occasion of the 2022 IWF World Championships. IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso said: “We are delighted to welcome Bonnat to the Executive Board and further strengthen athlete representation among our membership. The IWF is fully committed to promoting the interests of the athletes and having three athletes on our Executive Board ensures that their voice is heard and acted upon.” IWF AC Chair Forrester Christopher Osei added: “The IWF Athletes Commission is very happy to have Zacarias as one of our representatives on the Executive Board. We have complete confidence that he will be a valuable addition and will actively contribute to discussions which will impact our fellow weightlifters. As a silver medallist from the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, he will bring vital experience and perspective as one of the world’s best weightlifters to the Executive

Senior IWF delegation meets with Colombian Weightlifting Federation ahead of record-breaking 2022 IWF World Championships

A senior International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) delegation led by IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso met with the Colombian Weightlifting Federation in Bogota to discuss preparations for the upcoming 2022 IWF World Championships. The World Championships will take place on 5-16 December 2022 and is set to involve more athletes than ever before. Colombian Weightlifting Federation President William Peña and Colombian Weightlifting Federation Director of Events Andrea Peña met with IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso to update him on progress and was joined by IWF Competition Manager Matyas Lencser, and President of the Pan American Weightlifting Federation Jose Quiñonez. During the visit, the delegation had meetings with local and national sports authorities such as the Minister of Sport, Maria Isabel Urrutia who is a Sydney 2000 Olympic Weightlifting Champion, President of the Colombian Olympic Committee Mr Ciro Solano Hurtado and the IDRD to ensure the smooth running of the event. They also met with media to discuss coverage of the event which will be hosted in South America for the first time. Visits were made to hotels with capacity to serve the athletes of the more than 110 federations registered, as well as the restaurants, gyms, meeting rooms and auditoriums to hold the 2022 IWF Special Congress. IWF General Secretary Antonio Urso said: “We are greatly looking forward to making history with these World Championships in Colombia. It will be the first time our flagship event has been hosted in South America and it is set to attract more of the world’s best athletes than ever. We are grateful for the ongoing support and commitment of the Colombian Weightlifting Federation and Colombian authorities and we have no doubt they will stage a world-class event. With the World Championships also serving as a qualification event for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 we are sure our athletes will put on unforgettable

IWF signs agreement with ZKC as official sole supplier for Paris 2024

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has signed an agreement with CHINA Hebei ZhangKong Barbell Manufacturing CO. LTD.  (ZKC) to be the federation’s official Sole Supplier for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.ZKC has extensive experience in supplying the highest-standard equipment in weightlifting and was the IWF’s official Sole Supplier for Beijing 2008, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.ZKC will provide all the required equipment to the Paris 2024 Organising Committee in accordance with the IWF Technical Competition Rules & Regulations. In addition, ZKC is entitled to use the "Official Sole Supplier" title in its advertisements.Antonio Urso, IWF General Secretary said:“We are very happy to continue our long-term partnership with ZKC. ZKC has been the IWF’s official supplier at three Olympic Games and has a proven track record of delivering the highest quality equipment for our athletes. We are looking forward to working with them again at Paris 2024 and ensuring our athletes have what they need to compete at their best.”Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, ZKC General Manager said:“We are very proud to have signed this agreement with the IWF and ensure the continuation of ZKC’s affiliation with elite weightlifting. As the Official Sole Supplier, we recognise we have an important responsibility to provide equipment of the highest standards for the Olympic weightlifters. We have developed a strong relationship with the IWF over three Olympic Games and are excited to work with them again at Paris 2024.”The IWF Executive Board had approved ZKC as the official sole supplier for Paris 2024 during its meeting on 1 September

IWF President lauds weightlifting competition at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Photo: Dan Kent IWF President Mohamed Jalood has praised the outstanding weightlifting competitions at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which showcased the sport’s athletic prowess, universality, thrilling entertainment and global appeal.The weightlifting competition took place between 30 July and 3 August and saw elite weightlifters compete across 16 weight categories – eight male and eight female.  A total of 178 weightlifters from 38 nations qualified via the Athlete Allocation System, including ex-refugee Olympic athlete Cyrille Tchatchet who competed for Team England. Of the  participating nations, 15 countries from all five Continents won medals reflecting the universality of the sport. In addition, eight weightlifters from four continents were selected as their country’s flagbearers at the Games’ Opening Ceremony including Home Nation, England’s Olympic Silver Medallist Emily Campbell.Birmingham 2022 implemented innovative sports presentation and fan engagement strategies to create an exceptional atmosphere which drew praise from many athletes. The competition also showcased the sport’s commitment to gender representation with a 50:50 gender split on technical officials.IWF President Jalood was in England to attend the weightlifting competition, alongside General Secretary Antonio Urso and seven other IWF Executive Board members.Speaking following the conclusion of the Games, President Jalood said:“The competitions at Birmingham 2022 were a great success and showcased the very best of our sport. Weightlifters from every continent won medals which demonstrates just how strong  weightlifting is around the world. At the IWF we are committed to ensuring that the sport continues to develop globally and provide our athletes with the opportunity to compete in fair and clean competitions.”   Among the weightlifters to grace the podium in Birmingham were: India’s Commonwealth Games defending champion and Olympic silver medallist Chanu Saikhom Mirabai who won gold in the women’s 49kg. Maude G Charron, defending Commonwealth Games champion and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist who won gold in the women’s 64kg. Australia’s defending Commonwealth Games Champion Eileen Cikamatana who claimed gold in the women’s 87kg. England’s Olympic silver medallist Emily Campbell who won gold in the women’s 87+kg. And, defending Commonwealth Games champion Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamad of Malaysia who retained his title in the men’s 61kg. Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Paul Coffa said:“Birmingham 2022 was an incredible advert for weightlifting in Commonwealth nations. The standard of competition was exceptional with many of the world’s best weightlifters taking part. Fans were treated to thrilling competitions and incredible athletic performances and with 15 different countries winning medals there was plenty to celebrate.”IWF Athletes’ Commission Chair Forrester Christopher Osei, who competed at Birmingham 2022, added:“There is no doubt that Birmingham 2022 was one of the best weightlifting competitions I, and many of the athletes I spoke to, have been a part of. The stage for competing was impressive and the way the audience was engaged created an unforgettable atmosphere. It is an exciting time for weightlifting and Birmingham 2022 reinforced that there are creative ways we can enhance the sport and better connect the athletes and fans.”The full weightlifting results from Birmingham 2022 can be accessed here.Weightlifting was first added to the Commonwealth Games programme in 1950 and has featured as a medal sport at every Games