Weightlifting as a whole has made strong strides in the last year to ensure their commitment to clean sport. The IWF has now implemented multiple programs to enhance their efficiency at maintaining their anti-doping measures, and in a recent press release, signaled they won’t be letting up anytime soon.
Their announcement to continue their enhanced clean sport diligence comes at an important time. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced earlier today that weightlifting is still on conditional status for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. This news came after the IOC Executive Board assessed a review of the IWF’s reports on their latest anti-doping measures. And while the IWF has met and even gained praise from the IOC over the last months on their new anti-doping measures, they’ll remain on conditional status until further notice.
IWF President Tama Ajan stated, “We respect the IOC’s decision and our commitment to ensuring clean sport remains as strong as ever. We will continue to work closely in partnership with the IOC and WADA to ensure a clean competition for weightlifters…”
In June 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) first announced their decision to create gender equality at the Olympic Games for weightlifting, though they decreased the total number of weightlifters set to compete in Tokyo. Around that time, IOC President Thomas Bach also stressed his concerns for weightlifting’s doping issues and implemented new standards to be met by the IWF in order to stay a sport that’s held at the summer Olympic Games, hence the remaining on conditional status above.
Since the June announcement, the IWF has made sizable changes in the way they approach anti-doping. These changes started from suggestions made by the Clean Sport and Sport Programme Commission, independent advisors, the IOC, and WADA. In addition, the IWF has introduced a new Olympics Qualification System, all new weight classes, and the IWF recently started working with USAW and USADA to increase anti-doping educational content to be provided around the world.
Feature image from @iwfnet Instagram page.
