News

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

Olympic Champion Dobrev to miss Beijing Games

Bulgarian  Milen Dobrev will be unable to defend his title at Beijing Olympics after failing to recover from a waist injury, the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation said on Wednesday.The 27-year-old Dobrev won gold four years ago in the 94-kg category at the Athens Games."He's still suffering from the injury and it will prevent him from achieving his full potential in Beijing," Federation General Secretary Tenyo Tenev told reporters. "That's why we decided that it'll be better not to force him," he said. "He will resume his preparations for next year's European and world championship after recovering from the

Small Nations Tournament celebrates 30th edition

For the sixth time in its history the Small Nations Tournament took place in Luxembourg in the city of Hamm. Eleven teams with  forty-three athletes contested for the victory. The Tournament celebrated its 30th edition. This time, Cyprus won rather easily in front of Luxembourg and Monaco; Iceland and San Marino finished in the 4th and 5th positions. In the traditionnal Open Tournament of Clubs, Besancon of France won ahead of Cyprus and Sarre.In the individual ranking Dimitris MINASIDIS finished in the first rank, at the second position we find Kingue MATAM Bernadin from Besancon and the Cypriot Alexandris AMANATIDES was placed third. During the opening ceremony of this Jubilee, thirtieth edition, Jean Paul BULGARIDHES, IWF Executive Board Member, representing the IWF President Dr. Tamás AJÁN, presented commemorative plaques to Mr. Rene DEVILLE, Secretary of this tournament for twenty-four years and another one to Mr. Wolfgang PETER, Honorary Vice President of the IWF.Congratulations on the wonderful teamwork of this tournament, especially Mr. Gaston PARAGE, General Secretary of the Luxembourg Federation and "Father of the Small Nations Tournament", Mr. René DEVILLE.See you in Malta in 2009!Mr. Jean-Paul BULGARIDHES, IWF Executive Board Member conveyed the IWF's appreciation to Mr. René DEVILLE and Mr. Wolfgang