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IWF Executive Board upholds decision related to Member Federations which have produced three or more retesting cases

IWF takes latest step in ongoing anti-doping reform to encourage the protection of clean athletes 30 September 2017; Bucharest, Romania: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board (EB) today unanimously decided that Member Federations (MFs) found to have produced three or more Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year. The MFs which have been identified as such are currently Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. The IWF EB meeting took place in Bucharest with anti-doping at the very top of the agenda.The Tbilisi Commission which had been appointed by the EB in April had conducted a thorough investigation into the matter and presented its recommendation to the EB today. The EB is now drafting the reasoned decisions which are scheduled to be sent to the MFs and to take effect in mid-October. The IWF is fully committed to protecting clean athletes and is implementing robust anti-doping measures at both international and Member Federation level to address the incidence of doping in the sport. IWF President Tamas Ajan said: “At the IWF we have made it clear that the incidence of doping in some areas is totally unacceptable and that our Members have a responsibility to ensure clean sport in their countries. If they do not fulfil their responsibilities to ensure their lifters are clean then they will lose their right to participate. But we will not turn our backs on them; we will continue to work with them, WADA and their National Anti-Doping Agencies to support their anti-doping activities and help make cultural change. “There is no doubt that the IWF Anti-Doping Programme has advanced enormously since Beijing 2008 and London 2012. The culture of the sport has already changed in many places over the last ten years. But we are committed to doing more and we will do more. Through our Clean Sport Commission we are not just looking at how we overcome current issues but how we can innovate with new testing and anti-doping measures for the benefit of all sport.” Context and timeline of the “Tbilisi Decision” On 22 June 2016 the IWF Executive Board outlined a Policy related to the results of the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 reanalysis, the so called “Tbilisi Decision”: “IWF Executive Board has decided that National Federations (NFs)* confirmed to have produced 3 or more Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for 1 year” Before the Olympic Games in Rio, only two of the reanalysis cases were closed by IOC.  The last IOC decisions became final on 28 August 2017. In the meantime, three countries filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the EB's decision of 22 June 2016. CAS rendered its award in March 2017 on which the IWF EB immediately started its follow-up measures. During its meeting of 2 April 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Executive Board outlined the principles of the procedure to be applied in respect of potential breaches of the Policy and decided to appoint a Committee composed of three Members to investigate any potential breach of the Policy and make recommendations to the Executive Board for decision. The Commission conducted a thorough investigation discussed during its meetings of 9 June and 9 September. The outcome was presented to the IWF EB and approved unanimously

Coaching Education Course in Cape Town, South Africa

In the framework of the IWF Development Program a 4-days coaching course was held in Cape Town, South Africa on 13-16 September with 10 participants from 5 African countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Mauritius, Swaziland). Mr. Tamas Feher , former British Head Coach as lecturer gave theoretical and practical sessions on the following topics for all attendees: Basic training methodology Technical teaching of beginner weightlifters (theoretical and practical) Main exercises of weightlifting training (theoretical and practical) Training principles of the weightlifting training Weightlifter’s main conditional abilities Strength development in weightlifting Training planning in weightlifting Preparation of an advanced athlete After the very informative and educational course the participants received certificates at the end of the

WADA provisionally suspends accreditation of Paris Laboratory

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has provisionally suspended the WADA accreditation of the Laboratory of the Agence Française de lutte contre le Dopage (the National Anti-Doping Organization of France) in Châtenay-Malabry, France (Paris Laboratory). This provisional suspension was imposed due to analytical issues self-reported to WADA by the Laboratory. The provisional suspension, which took effect on 24 September 2017, prohibits the Paris Laboratory from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples. The provisional suspension will remain in place pending disciplinary proceedings being carried out by an independent Disciplinary Committee, which will be mandated to make a recommendation to the Chair of the WADA Executive Committee regarding the status of the Laboratory’s WADA accreditation. During the period of the provisional suspension, samples that have not yet been analyzed by the Paris Laboratory; samples currently undergoing a confirmation procedure; and, any samples for which an Adverse Analytical Finding has been reported; must be securely transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory. This is in order to ensure continued high quality sample analysis, which also helps preserve athletes’ confidence in this process and of the wider anti-doping system. According to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is conducted in conjunction with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

WADA urges states parties to renew their pledge to clean sport at 6th UNESCO Conference of parties

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s President, Sir Craig Reedie, and Director General, Olivier Niggli, were in Paris, France, this week to take part in the 6th UNESCO Conference of Parties (Conference) that was held on 25 and 26 September. The Conference, which is a statutory session that takes place on a bi-annual basis, addresses challenges on States Parties’ compliance with the provisions of the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport (Convention). The Convention, which was adopted in 2005, is the legal instrument through which States Parties (governments) formalize their commitment to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). At 99% global endorsement, the Convention is the second most successful one in the history of UNESCO in terms of the rhythm of ratification post adoption. In his speech that launched day one of the Conference, WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie, thanked UNESCO for its collaboration and urged States Parties to renew their pledge to Clean Sport. “Over the last 15 years, WADA, UNESCO, governments and the sport movement have built a solid global anti-doping system,” said Reedie. “The Code and the Convention are robust and complementary instruments,” he continued. “The Convention focuses on what governments can do; while, the Code, focuses on the Code rules and how they can be enforced. Regardless of our success, we must all do more. WADA is moving forward and States Parties are encouraged to move in the same direction.” Reedie closed his address by saying, “You are all representatives of your respective countries and, in particular, of your athletes. The discussions that you will have over these two days, and the decisions that you take, will shape the future for your athletes. This meeting represents a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the Convention. I would ask you to keep your current and future athletes top of mind during your deliberations. They make us proud every day through their excellence and perseverance…we owe them ‘our best’ in order to protect their right to clean sport.” On day two, under the theme ‘Clean Sport – A Shared Responsibility’, Olivier Niggli reemphasized the importance of increased collaboration between WADA and UNESCO in order  to “demonstrate through our actions that we are coordinated and determined -- along with the broader anti-doping community -- to prevent, deter and detect doping in sport; and, build athlete confidence and trust in the anti-doping system.” In particular, Niggli made an appeal to States Parties that they do more in the areas of education, information sharing and development of a regime of consequences for States Parties; which, were all the subject of adopted resolutions that were put forward by States Parties from Japan, Chile and Denmark respectively. Niggli then took delegates through WADA’s 2017 priorities, which aim to build an Agency that is fit for the future; details of which, can be found in the Agency’s 2016 Annual Report. To close out his presentation, Niggli provided a status update regarding WADA’s independent McLaren Investigation (that revealed institutionalized manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia); and, progress regarding RUSADA’s Roadmap to Code Compliance. On the latter topic, Niggli was very clear that, “Since November 2015, when RUSADA was first declared non-compliant with the Code, as a result of WADA’s independent Pound Commission, WADA and its partners have been working diligently to rebuild a credible and sustainable anti-doping system in Russia.” Niggli emphasized that “WADA is unwavering in its focus on completion of the Roadmap; and that, Russian authorities know exactly what is needed to get there.” About the Conference The Conference has overall responsibility for implementation of the Convention. Its objectives include: monitoring of compliance with the Convention; examining and adopting amendments to the Convention; and determining how resources of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport will be used. In addition to States Parties and other Member States of UNESCO, WADA is invited as an advisory organization to the Conference. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Council of Europe (COE), the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) and other intergovernmental sports organizations are also invited as observers. Read Sir Craig Reedie’s full speech here. Source: Maggie Durand WADA Coordinator, Media Relations and

Happy Birthday to Manfred Nerlinger

Manfred Nerlinger was born 57 years ago on September 27, 1960 in Münich. This outstanding German weightlifter weight almost 150kg at the peak of his career and stood on the podium three times on the occasion of four Olympic Games. Between 1982 - 1996, he won 30 medals at World Championships. He started his sports career in 1973 and his biggest achievement was at the Soul 1988 Olympic Games where he won a Silver Medal. At the 1984 Los Angeles Games he won Bronze medal just like in Barcelona in 1992. At his final Olympic Competition in 1996 Atlanta he finished sixth. He competed at World Championships eleven times and European Championships ten times. Out of his 15 and 12 medals from World and European Championships four (2-2) were Gold. In 1993 he set a new World Record with a Total of 247,5 kg and set National records 37 times. After 2000, he continued as a coach and trained the youth generation in Germany. He is married and has two children. We wish a very happy birthday to Manfred

The 26th World Championships happened exactly 70 years ago

70 years ago the IWF organized its World Championships in Philadelphia, USA. In 1947 it was only a two days competition with 39 men representing 12 countries.  As a matter of fact, in all six bodyweight categories Americans won Gold as well as three Silver and one Bronze Medal. One Silver and one Bronze was awarded to Canada and South –Korea respectively while the rest of the podium was filled by athletes from four other countries: British Guinea finished second and Czechoslovakia, Finland and Great-Britain third. The list of the World Champions seventy years ago: 56 kg bodyweight category Joseph DePietro  Total 300 kg 60 kg bodyweight category Robert Higgins   310.0 kg 67.5 kg bodyweight category Pete George   352.5 kg 75 kg bodyweight category Stanley Stanczyk  405 kg 82.5 kg bodyweight category John Terpak   387.5 kg +82.5 kg bodyweight category John Davis   455