IWF Development Program Donations
IWF Development Program Donations
In the framework of the 2017 IWF Development Program, besides the numerous seminars organized, the IWF also donated equipment to several countries. The Member Federations applied for support last year and received brand new equipment including barbell sets or weightlifting costume, shoes, belts. The IWF could support among others Aruba, Germany, Nepal, Poland and Slovenia with weightlifting
Training Course in Barbados
Barbados Amateur Weightlifting Association hosted its first ever training course for technical officials with the funds of IWF. Instructed by Ms. Gabriella Mathe, 17 participants were formally introduced to the technical rules and regulations governing Olympic weightlifting as long with the roles and responsibilities of the officials. In addition, due to the support of Olympic Solidarity BAWA has organized an introductory coaching course, instructed by Mr. Andras Szabo with 25 participants. After the educational courses BAWA hosted the second edition of the Phillips & Springer Classic, in conjunction with the Barbados Olympic Association. All three events were enthusiastically received by participants and spectators. Participants, under the continued guidance of Ms. Mathe and Mr. Szabo, used the knowledge gained at the courses on the day of the competition. This contributed greatly to the improved execution of the event. Indeed, Mr. David Colon-Arroyo, who served as announcer at the competition also made this observation when he compared this year’s event to last year’s which was the first competition held in Barbados in 44 years. Mr. Andrew Callender, President of BAWA said that they hope some of the participants will want to be certified technical officials and seek to staking the qualifying steps towards more advanced
Beijing 2008 Results Corrected for Chinese Taipei Weightlifters
On January 25, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee held an Olympic Medals Ceremony to celebrate the corrections for two medalists at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Ms. Chen Wei-ling and Ms. Lu Ying-chi. Both athletes were awarded bronze medals in Beijing, but were upgraded at the end of 2017 following the several disqualifications for doping violations. Chen and Lu were presented with the medals by IOC Member Mr. C. K. Wu in accordance with the IOC protocol for Olympic medal ceremonies. Chen received the gold medal and Lu the silver for their weight categories. The overall medal count for the Chinese Taipei delegation at the Beijing Olympics is now 5 gold, 7 silver and 20 bronze. The event was witnessed by Mr. Te-Fu Lin, Director General of Sports Administration and Ministry of Education; Mr. Hong-Dow Lin, President of Chinese Taipei NOC; Ms. Jacqueline Yi-Ting Shen, Secretary General of Chinese Taipei NOC; and Ms. Hsia-Ling Tai, former Minister of Sports Affairs Council, the Executive Yuan. All members of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and media were also present to record the occasion. Photo from left: Ms. Jacqueline Yi-Ting Shen, Secretary General of Chinese Taipei NOC; Mr. Hong-Dow Lin, President of Chinese Taipei NOC; Chen Wei-ling, Women’s 48kg Gold Medalist; Lu Ying-chi, Women’s 63kg Silver Medalist; Mr. Te-Fu Lin, Director General of Sports Administration and Ministry of Education; Mr. C. K. Wu, IOC Member Source: Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee -- Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Twitter
IWF sanction against Ilya Ilyin maximum allowed under World Anti-Doping Code
The Hearing Panel of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) concluded disciplinary proceedings against Ilya Ilyin and applied the greatest possible sanction against the athlete that is permitted (two years of ineligibility) under the World Anti-Doping Code. Although the Athlete committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations both at the Beijing and the London Olympic Games, IWF had no other choice but to consider the two violations as one according to the applicable rules. Under the IWF Anti-Doping Policies based on the World Anti-Doping Code applicable at the time of the Beijing and London Olympic Games which state “an anti-doping rule violation will only be considered a second violation if the anti-doping organization can establish that the athlete or other Person committed the second anti- doping rule violation after the athlete or other Person received notice pursuant to Article 7, or after the anti-doping organization made reasonable efforts to give notice of the first anti-doping rule violation. If the anti-doping organization cannot establish this, the violations shall be considered together as one single first violation, and the sanction imposed shall be based on the violation that carries the more severe sanction.” (World Anti-Doping Code. Article 10.7.4.1). Since the athlete had not been notified of the first violation (Beijing 2008) before committing the second (London 2012) the violation committed in London cannot be treated as a second violation. The IWF is keen to impose sanctions which correspond to the damage brought to its sport, and is reaching out to WADA and the IOC to discuss possibilities for the future to consider relevant rules to be changed and deal with the result of reanalysis programs similar to those of Beijing and London in a different manner. The IWF is committed to protecting clean athletes and is implementing the most robust anti-doping measures to address the incidence of doping. However, Ilya Ilyin remains ineligible to compete according to the “Tbilisi Decision”, until the suspension of the Kazakh Weightlifting Federation comes to end on 19 October
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
As of 23 January, the samples of 4 (four) athletes have returned an Adverse Analytical Finding, out of the 315 athletes participating at the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA. The IWF conducted 212 tests including 141 urine and 43 blood, representing 67% of the total number of athletes. These figures show a very significant improvement compared to the 2015 IWF World Championships Houston, USA where the IWF conducted 236 tests including 172 urine and 64 blood (40% of the total number of athletes). The test distribution plan of the Event was carefully established by the IWF Anti-Doping Commission, which appointed USADA as the Sample Collection Authority. All analyses were conducted by the independent WADA-accredited Laboratories of Montreal and Los Angeles using the most sophisticated, internationally-recognised detection methods available. These 4 (four) Adverse Analytical Findings are still 4 (four) too many. They do demonstrate, however, that the IWF’s comprehensive approach to eliminating doping is working well. The evident progress since Houston in 2015 will serve as further motivation to the IWF to continue implementing the toughest anti-doping programme of any international sports federation. The IWF is committed to protecting clean athletes and doing everything it can to address the incidence of doping in sport. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Dimitris MINASIDIS (CYP) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for GW501516 (S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulators/ Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor δ (PPARδ) agonists). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Aurimas DIDZBALIS (LTU) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator S-22 (S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Mr. Dumitru CAPTARI (ROU) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Ephedrine (S5 Diuretics and Masking Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is closed. IWF reports that the sample of Ms. Romela BEGAJ (ALB) has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Stanozolol (S1.1 Anabolic Agents). As a consequence, the Athlete is provisionally suspended in view of a potential anti-doping rule violation. In any case where it is determined that the athlete did not commit an anti-doping rule violation, the relevant decision will also be published. IWF will not make any further comments on the case until it is
Lydia Valentín Finally Receives Her Olympic Silver Medal
This Tuesday, 16th January, has brought one of the most anticipated moments for Spanish weightlifting and, above all, for Lydia Valentín. Marisol Casado, member of the International Olympic Committee, has presented Lydia with the silver medal from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing at the Spanish Olympic Committee headquarters. In addition, the Vice President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), José Quiñones, has handed her the pin that credits Lydia's historic deed. Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee; the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo; the Secretary of State for Sport, José Ramón Lete; the other Spanish member of the IOC, José Perurena; and the president of The Spanish Weightlifting Federation, Constantino Iglesias, were present during the moving even in recognition of the entire Olympic Movement. Lydia's medal has arrived late, but it has nonetheless arrived, as Alejandro Blanco remarked during his speech, in which he also wanted to highlight the values of the sport represented by Lydia Valentín in her constant fight for fair play and clean sport. Lydia only had words of gratitude to all the people who were present and, above all, she has appreciated the support from her family, training partners, medical team and friends. An emotional moment came for Lydia when several Spanish sports stars, including Saul Craviotto, Maialen Chourraut, Marcus Walz and Ruth Beitia, congratulated her for the medal via a video that was played at the ceremony. Valentín's teammates, who are concentrated in the High-Performance Center of Madrid, didn’t want to miss this special moment. Neither did the people that discovered her: Isaac Álvarez; Manuel Galván, National Coach and Lydia’s coach during the Olympic cycle of Beijing; and Matías Fernández, current National Coach and Lydia’s coach from 2008 onwards. This is the first of two medals that Lydia can now hang around her neck with pride. Photo credit: Isaac Morillas /
