News

President Sólyom Awards IWF President for long lasting contribution to sports development

At the Houses of Parliament in Budapest, the President of the Republic of Hungary László Sólyom presented Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President, IOC Member with the state award, the Middle Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in recognition of his dedication and long lasting contribution to the development of

Ruth Kasirye, Norwegian champion

Ruth Kasirye (1982 - Tonsberg - 62.76 kg), Olympic participant 2008 in Beijing, was the absolute super star of the National Norwegian Championships on 6th and 7th March in Spydeberg. With 106 kg in the snatch, 125 kg and 130 kg in the clean and jerk as well as with 226 kg, 231 kg and 236 kg in the total she established six national records in the 63 kg category. Anja-Evelin Jordalen (1987 - Bjorgvin - 70.29 kg) could also come up with records. She set four new records in the 75 kg category with 90 kg in the snatch, 113 kg in the clean and jerk as well as with 200 kg and 203 kg in the total. Of course Ruth Kasirye was the best female lifter of the championships with 294.10 Sinclair points ahead of Anja-Evelin Jordalen with 236.79 points. Per Hordnes (1981 - Bjorgvin - 93.34 kg) was the best male participant with 374.32 points ahead of Jarleif Amdal (1988 - Vigrestad - 84.31 kg) with 358.74

Olympic champion Aramnau gets ban for drinking

Olympic champion Andrei Aramnau of Belarus was handed a two-year suspended ban from competition on Friday after driving while intoxicated for the second time in less than three months. The 20-year-old, who won gold in Beijing by breaking several world records in the 105kg weight class, was first caught driving drunk in December before he repeated the offence last month, just a day after receiving keys for a new apartment. Belarus Sports Minister Alexander Grigorov, who headed the disciplinary hearing, told Reuters: "The Olympic success obviously went to his head. He is young and he couldn't handle it in a right way. We gave him a suspended sentence because we didn't want to lose him as an athlete." Aramnau, who also faces criminal charges for being a repeat offender, was stripped of a presidential monthly stipend worth more than $5,000. However, Grigorov said Aramnau, who won his first world title in 2007 as a 19-year-old, could be given a second chance. "If he retains the world title this year, he would get the stipend back," Grigorov said.

Salama works for Egypt

The Egyptian federation contracted Maged Salama as a new national trainer for women. Salama was earlier the coach for Matthias Steiner in

Weightlifter next Iba recipient

The Rotary Club of Tulsa announced that Olympic weightlifter Melanie Roach, who placed sixth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, will be the 2009 female recipient of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award. Roach and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the male recipient, will be honored at the 16th annual Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards, set for June 15. The Iba Awards, created by the Rotary Club of Tulsa and named in memory of former Oklahoma State basketball coach Henry Iba, are given to athletes who excel in their sport and who show a desire to help others. Roach bears a heavy burden even when not competing. She and her husband, Dan, have three kids. A son, Drew, was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2 years old. Roach is a member of Athletes Against Autism, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and raising funds for research into finding causes, effective treatments and a cure for autism. Roach, who set an American record at the 2008 Olympics, is the 14th Olympic participant and first lifter to be chosen as a female Iba Awards recipient. Roach became the first U.S. woman to clean and jerk more than double her body weight. An injury caused her to miss the 2000 Olympics, then she set weights aside to start a family. She came out of retirement in 2005 to train for Beijing. Other past female Iba recipients are basketball players Rebecca Lobo, Dawn Staley and Tamika Catchings; softball player Lisa Fernandez; swimmers Jenny Thompson and Megan Quann Jendrick; tennis player Andrea Jaeger; soccer player Michelle Akers; figure skater Nancy Kerrigan; golfers Amy Alcott and Nancy Lopez, and track icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee.(Tulsa

World Cup in New Caledonia cancelled due to General Elections

Ronald Frere, President of New Caledonia Federation sent this message: "Dear Friends, It is with great regret to inform you that the 2009 World Cup which was supposed to be held on May 3rd to 7th,  has been cancelled in New Caledonia. This decision was taken after consultation with the IWF / OWF.  The reason for canceling the event,  is that the Government of New Caledonia was to have their General Election in the month of April.  But they have now changed it to the month of May,  the same week as the World Cup.  Consequently the New Caledonia television, RFO,  has had no choice but to pull out of the telecast, locally and internationally and therefore we were left with no other choice but to cancel the World Cup. Yours sincerely, Ronald Frere, President NEW CALEDONIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION"