Olympics:Weightlifting is serious to meet IOC requirements to stay in Olympics

Desperate to stay as a part of the 1928 Olympic games competition programme, Weightlifting has set in motion its election process to meet the third and last direction of the International Olympic Committee. It needs to meet all the three requisites of the IOC to remain in contention for the Olympic sport programme.

It is one of three sports put on the hold list for the 2028 Olympic programme.

The International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) Member Federations met at a Special Congress held online on Saturday to approve key measures that will enable elections to be held as planned. The elections for the IWF’s leading bodies are scheduled for  June 25 and 26 this year.
 
Among the measures approved were constitutional amendments to ensure a sound legal basis for the elections, which will be a call for candidates being issued on  March 2 and eligibility checks on the candidates completed by April 30.
 
“A year ago, the IOC set us three key tests: reform our governance, ensure clean weightlifting competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and deliver culture change through the holding of elections. With two of those already completed, the IWF is now well on its way to delivering the third,” said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani.

Weightlifting was facing criticism for high incidence of abuse of prohibited substances (Doping) by athletes besides its governance, including the election of the office-bearers.
 
In addition to adopting constitutional amendments, the IWF also established a fully-ratified Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) representing all the five continents, whose initial work will include the vetting of candidates for the June elections. The members of the Commission are:

  • Gabriel Nigon, Switzerland (Chair)
  • Nasr El-Din Azzam, Egypt
  • Ahmad Bin Nooh Al-Thani, Qatar
  • Lorena Novoa, Colombia
  • Charles Quagliata, Australia

The appointed reserved members are the following:

  • Ana Maria Montoya Ruales, Peru
  • Valéry Horyna, Switzerland

An Independent Investigative Chamber (IIC) was also established with the following members:

  • Dev Kumar Parmar, United Kingdom
  • Elda Gjoka, Albania
  • Adnan Rhoma, Libya
  • Romain Bizzini, France
  • Lorenza Mel, Italy

“The IWF is pleased to welcome independent legal expertise to ensure the elections are conducted to the very highest standards,” continued Dr. Irani. “With our conduct in the coming weeks and months, we can ensure that whatever the results for individual candidates, weightlifting will be the winner.”