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Bulgarian lifters withdrawal

Following the positive A sample analysis report of eleven Bulgarian weightlifters according to the IWF Anti Doping Code all eleven lifters received provisional suspension on the 19th June 2008.In accordance with the IWF to demonstrate the serious determination of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee and the Weightlifting Federation of their fight against doping decided to withdraw the Bulgarian weightlifting team (6 men and 2 women) from the participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic

IWF to revise its Olympic quota withdrawal decision

At its recent meeting in Cali, Colombia, the IWF Executive Board put under revision its earlier decision of 11 March 2008, according to which Olympic qualification quota should be withdrawn from countries producing positive doping results between 1 January and August of 2008. That particular measure was intended to underline the IWF's extremely strong and determined fight against the abuse of doping. With regard to the fact, however, -         that the Olympic Games are the event of the International Olympic Committee and come under its jurisdiction, -         that the Olympic Qualification Regulations for the 2008 Beijing Games were approved by the IOC already at the middle of 2006, -         that the above stipulation of the IWF was not included in the approved Qualification Regulation for Weightlifting and no such modification can be made at this late date, after consulting the IOC, the IWF acknowledges that it will not implement its former decision for Beijing 2008. At the same time, the countries concerned have the right to return Olympic quota to the IWF, and the IWF very much appreciates if such NOCs, adopting the principles and the spirit of the anti-doping fight, are willing to do so. The IWF has already determined to include such rule into the Qualification Regulation for the next, the 2012 London Olympic

IWF eliminates World Standards from World Record list

Following the proposal of the Scientific and the Technical Committees, the IWF Executive Board decided to eliminate the so-called "World Standards" from the list of World Records. As it is known, with the introduction of the current set of bodyweight categories, on 1st January 1998, World Standards were created based upon previous best performances, any result exceeding those to be recognised as the World Record on the lift or on the total. Since 1998, almost all of these marks have been exceeded, in most cases several times, except for 4 results in the men's 85kg, 94kg and 105kg.Now, according to the decision of the IWF, the best performances achieved on these lifts since 1st January 1998 up to today are recognised as the Current World Records. The official World Record List has been updated

Russian lifter sets world record in final act at Colombia

On the final day of the 2008 Junior World Championships in Cali, colombia, Russian Evgeny PISAREV set a new junior world record in the +105kg category with 196kg in snatch. In the men's team classification Russia dominated, with Ukraine and Iran taking second and third positions, respectively. Team Classification - MEN                               Medal Table - MEN The host country, Colombia proved to be the best among the female teams; Turkey finished in second, Russia in third position. Team Classification - WOMEN                          Medal Table - WOMEN In the absence of the Chinese squads, keen fights characterized many categories with a close finish among the top contenders. New nations like Tunisia and Egypt emerged with protagonists who won Champion

In the aftermath of the Greek doping cases

The IWF Executive Board at its meeting on 13 June 2008 listened to the report of the Hearing Panel of the 11 Greek athletes who had proved positive in an out-of-competition control on 7 March 2008. Yannis Sgouros, IWF General Secretary confirmed to the Board that since 2005 he had not borne any function in the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation, nor was he associated in any way with these cases. As regards the issue, he supported the most stringent action or decisions possible. Although he had no relation whatsoever with the athletes and officials concerned, as a Greek person he was aware of the gravity of this unprecedeentede situation and offered his resignation as General Secretary of the IWF. The Executive Board unanimously rejected his offer and reconfirmed full confidence to Mr. Sgouros. The athletes concerned as well as the Greek Federation were duly sanctioned. All the eleven athletes were suspended for two years. As it is known, Greece had obtained Olympic quota for 5 men and 3 women. The Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation and the IWF agreed that Greece would enter only 3 male and 1 female weightlifters to the 2008 Beijing Olympic