News

New issue of the Magazine of the South American Weightlifting Confederation is out

The new edition of the CSLP Magazine is available online in Spanish language. In this edition of the magazine published by the  South American Weightlifting Confederation, readers can relive the Grand Prix Lima 2019, the World Championships in Pattaya and get informed about the latest news of the

Cancellation of the 2020 IWF Masters World Championships

The IWF Masters Executive Board and active Co-opted Members decided to cancel the 2020 IWF MASTERS World Championship in Orlando and to offer to the USA Masters committee to host the event in 2022, which was thankfully received by the USA Masters committee under Michael Cohen. Already a new date with the same location in Orlando - USA has been given: New date: 18 - 27 August 2022. The decision has been made without Congress vote, as this will not be possible until the next Congress in Kansai in 2021. New dates of postponed Continental Masters Championships: - Oceania Masters: 05- 07 June 2020, postponed, a new date has not been announced yet - Pan-American Masters: 08 - 11 October 2020 - European Masters: 28 Nov. - 05 December

Acting President’s Message

Dear IWF Athletes, Coaches, Member Federations, contributors and supporters to the sport of weightlifting, [caption id="attachment_29407" align="alignleft" width="300"] Ms Ursula Garza Papandrea, IWF Acting President[/caption] I would like to preface this message with my well wishes to all weightlifting athletes. I know you are facing extraordinary challenges in a sport that is already laden with arduous demands. I hope everyone is able to continue to train and stay active but more important than anything, maintain their good health. As previously posted on the IWF news, our long serving President Dr. Tamas Ajan has resigned as President. For 44 years, more than half of his life, he gave his time and effort towards the success of weightlifting. It is incumbent upon us to be grateful for his service. To demonstrate that gratitude, he has been given the title Honorary Ambassador of Weightlifting. Your IWF Executive Board has been very busy preparing for the major changes that will lead us into 2021. The Board has made a variety of decisions to ensure for a successful transition and a new direction for our future. We have also been resolving some of the immediate concerns. Regarding the Olympic Games Qualification System, the IWF Executive Board has approved modifications in accordance with the International Olympic Committee Olympic Games Qualification guidelines. We await approval, but the rationale for the modifications was to restore the qualification system as it currently existed prior to the effects of COVID 19 and to ensure delivery of clean sport in the 2020 Olympic Games to be held in 2021. One of the main concerns and topics of discussion has been the welfare of each other and the member federations around the world and of course, the athletes. After a series of discussions and input, the Executive Board jointly and overwhelmingly decided to combine the encumbered special projects fund with the development fund to increase the amount of funding available via the development fund. Additionally, we included a new category for COVID 19 related costs in the development program. The application deadline has also been extended to make these funds available to countries who have not yet applied. This distribution of funds in the COVD 19 category will be vetted by the Medical Committee chair and carried out by the Development Committee. Please be on the lookout for an email from the Development Committee and a NEW application reflecting this funds request category. [caption id="attachment_29401" align="alignright" width="300"] Mr Phil Andrews, Deputy Director General[/caption] On April 22, McLaren Global Sports Solutions delivered an interim report to the entire Executive Board. Their investigation continues and needs your cooperation to be fully successful in achieving correct conclusions. Information can be anonymously given at your discretion on the following https://mclarenweightliftingenquiry.com/. The final report will be delivered on June 4, 2020. A major decision made by your Executive Board, in order to provide stability and continuity, is that I will retain the position as IWF Acting President until the next IWF Electoral Congress. To aid in conducting a successful transition and to fill key positions in the Lausanne based Secretariat, the Executive Board hired Phil Andrews as Deputy Director General. We additionally created search and hiring intra-board committees for a permanent Director General (for which new DDG, Mr. Andrews, will not be eligible) and part-time Chief Financial Officer, as part of the reorganization of the IWF. We are in the process of continuing to build out a timeline for completion. I have a goal to be fully functional in Lausanne by January 2021. My intent is to create an international office to serve the membership federations and to perform our role as an IOC summer sport federation with the inclusivity, integrity and discipline that such a privilege should demand of us, and which we must require of ourselves. Last but most important, we must continue to support the anti-doping policies and efforts that began in 2017. In a desire to decrease the perception or potential of interference by the IWF in any and all anti-doping processes, the Board has voted unanimously to hand over the appointing of all members of both the Anti-Doping Commission and the Member Federations Sanctioning Panel. Discussions and an agreement are still pending. These actions by the Board exemplify the intent and desire to achieve external and independent bodies’ involvement in our anti-doping efforts. To conclude, yesterday we signed the agreement with CAS ADD (Court of Arbitration of Sports Anti-Doping division, which is a separate Division of CAS) to hear and decide anti-doping cases as a first instance authority upon written delegation of powers from the IOC, ITA, and other WADA signatories. My kindest regards to all. Please take care and please follow advisories to keep yourself, your teams and members safe from the virus. Please request funds as needed to do so. I send blessings and prayers and hope to hear of all maintaining good health. Athletes, please make smart decisions as we need you, you are the singular most important building block upon whose shoulders all of our successes rest, without healthy, clean and strong athletes, there is no sport. I will continue to send you updates throughout the next few months. Your Acting President, Ursula Garza

NWF President, Yahaya Muhammad has passed away

The President of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Hon. Yahaya Muhammad has passed away this Saturday. Mr Muhammad was 58 years old and died as a cause of a protracted illness. He will be buried in Kano City, Kano Nigeria in accordance with Islamic religious rites. He is survived by two wives, an aged mother, 14 children and a host of other relations. The IWF offers it’s condolences to his family and the Nigerian Weightlifting

IWF Executive Board Accepts Resignation Of IWF President Tamas Ajan

15 April; During an online meeting, the IWF Executive Board today approved the retirement of Tamas Ajan, accepting his resignation as IWF President after 43 years of service to weightlifting. “The IWF thanks Tamas Ajan for more than four decades of service to weightlifting, and most notably for his work in recent years to ensure an anti-doping programme which meets the standards of the IOC and WADA is in place,” said IWF Acting President Ursula Papandrea. “We can now begin the work of determining a fresh path towards achieving the full potential of our sport.” As part of his retirement, Ajan has tendered his resignation from the position of IWF President with immediate effect. The IWF Executive Board notes that an independent investigation by Professor Richard McLaren is currently ongoing, examining allegations made by ARD and related issues. “I offered the best of my life to our beloved sport,” said Ajan. “When health circumstances related to the pandemic allow, holding elections would enable a new generation to start work as soon as possible on ensuring a bright future for the sport we love.” The IWF Executive Board meeting will continue as it considers both the Olympic Qualifying System and IWF governance matters. “In these difficult and uncertain times, the IWF is determined to provide clarity over qualifying for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics to weightlifters everywhere,” continued Papandrea. “Our athletes are our first priority and they are currently facing significant challenges and disruption. We therefore want to ease the burden on them and ensure that we are providing them with further details about how we will deliver a safe and fair qualification

European Championships Postponed

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Executive Board of the European Weightlifting Federation decided to postpone the 2020 European Championships, due to be held 13-21 June in Moscow, Russia. New dates for the competition will be announced as soon as