On March 4, 2021, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) released a proposed new IWF constitution for public view. Notably, this proposed constitution is a draft as IWF Interim President Dr. ... Continue Reading
IOC: International Weightlifting Federation Has Ignored Reform, Could Lose Olympic Spot
On Feb 24, 2021, Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Christophe De Kepper sent a letter to International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Interim President Dr. Michael Irani and IWF ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Lü Xiaojun’s 280-Kilogram Deadlift Confirms He’s Still an Absolute Unit
Chinese weightlifter Lü Xiaojun just gets stronger and stronger with age. The former 77-kilogram, now 81-kilogram weightlifter has snatched a 150-kilogram (330.7-pound) triple and 180 kilograms (396.8 ... Continue Reading
IWF Executive Board Approves Anti-Doping and Election Eligibility Changes
On Feb. 18, 2021, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board approved two decisions regarding the Anti-Doping Rules and the candidate eligibility standards for the upcoming Electoral ... Continue Reading
Russian Weightlifter and Olympic Gold Medalist Yury Vlasov Dies at 85
Weightlifter Yury Vlasov died on Feb. 13, 2021, at the age of 85 from natural causes. The Russian leaves behind the legacy of being the first person ever to clean & jerk over 200 kilograms (441 ... Continue Reading
Eleiko Announces U.S. Headquarters Relocation to Austin, Texas
Eleiko, the Swedish strength equipment company whose weight plates and bars have been used by many strength sports athletes and fans for decades, have announced that they will be moving their North ... Continue Reading
International Testing Agency Announces New Whistleblower Platform “Reveal”
On Feb. 1, 2021, the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced the launch of its new doping reporting platform, "Reveal." The platform allows for would-be whistleblowers to disclose anonymous tips about ... Continue Reading
European Weightlifting Federation “Disappointed” By IWF Changes To Electoral Schedule and Anti-Doping Rules
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has experienced a string of hurdles recently regarding governance reform, which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made clear they expect from ... Continue Reading
67-Kilogram Weightlifter Liu Weijian Clean & Jerks Unofficial World Record of 190 Kilograms
The 67-kilogram weightlifter Liu Weijian hit a 190-kilogram (419-pound) clean & jerk. The significance of the massive lift — other than the fact that Weijian is only 21 years of age — is that it is two ... Continue Reading
British Weight Lifting Will Not Back Current IWF Interim President Michael Irani For Election
The International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) leadership has been in fairly constant flux over the past year. Ever since former long-time IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján stepped down following ... Continue Reading
ITA Charges Weightlifters Dumitru Captari and Nijat Rahimov With Anti-Doping Violation
Weightlifters Dumitru Captari of Romania and Nijat Rahimov of Kazhakstan have been "provisionally suspended until the resolution of their respective affairs" by the International Weightlifting Federation ... Continue Reading
Ursula Papandrea Announces IWF Presidential Bid, Seeks Leadership Overhaul
On Jan. 14, 2021, the former Vice President and Acting President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Ursula Papandrea announced her bid for the IWF Presidency. According to a release from ... Continue Reading
British Weight Lifting CEO to IWF Executive Board — “Step Down”
On Dec. 7, 2020, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced changes to the athlete quota for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The number of athletes will be reduced from the 11,092 allotted to the ... Continue Reading
Weightlifting Loses 76 Spots In New Athlete Quota For 2024 Paris Olympic Games
On Dec. 7, 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the event program for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Additionally, they adjusted the athlete quota for the entire Olympic ... Continue Reading
David Prowse, Star Wars’ Darth Vader and Champion Weightlifter, Dies At 85
David Prowse, the British actor who became famous for playing the role of Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy of the 1970s and 80s, died on November 28, 2020 at the age of 85. The New York ... Continue Reading
Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Bill Passed, Controversy Ensues
On Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (RADA) — named after Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower in Russia's state-sponsored doping at the ... Continue Reading
Members of the IWF Independent Disciplinary And Ethics Commission Announced
The International Weightlifting Committee (IWF) has gone through a series of leadership changes over the past few months. These changes come amidst concerns of corruption and, as a result, the sport of ... Continue Reading
How Does Your Limb Length Impact Your Lifts?
Lifting well is about a lot of things: the resilience of your mind, the strength and coordination of your muscles, and physics. If you’ve ever wondered why your bar path can make a difference between a ... Continue Reading
Phil Andrews: What’s Needed for International Weightlifting Reform
It's been a tumultuous year for the sport of weightlifting. In January, in the midst of an investigation into alleged corruption, longtime International Weightlifting Federation President Dr. Tamas Ajan ... Continue Reading
Shi Zhiyong Beats His Own World Record with 199 Kilogram Clean & Jerk
Shi Zhiyong is an absolute record-setting machine. The -73-kilogram weightlifter exceeded his own clean & jerk world record by one kilogram with a 199-kilogram lift. However, the clean & jerk was ... Continue Reading
Dr. Michael Irani Named Interim President of the IWF
The International Weightlifting Federation has changed leadership — again. Two days after former Interim President Ursula Garza Papandrea was ousted from her role, her replacement Intarat Yodbangtoey ... Continue Reading
Weightlifter Sarah Davies Starts Petition Against IWF Executive Board
On October 14th, Chair of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Athlete Commission Sarah Davies started a petition to "help push for a vote of no confidence of the IWF Executive Board" in ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting and IOC Release Statements Condemning IWF Shakeup
Both USA weightlifting and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have reacted to the news that Ursula Garza Papandrea has been removed as Interim President of the International Weightlifting Federation ... Continue Reading
6 Russian Athletes Found in Violation of IWF’s Anti-Doping Policy
On Oct. 8, 2020, the International Weightlifting Federation announced they were imposing sanctions on six Russian athletes who have been found guilty of anti-doping violations between the years 2011 and ... Continue Reading