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Off-Topic Weightlifting at the Olympics under threat

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Chrisdavisjr

Level 7 Valued Member
I don't know if many of you here have been following the recent developments in the world of Olympic weightlifting but it seems that the sport of weightlifting is under serious threat of losing its place at the Olympic games after consistent failures by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to address ongoing cases of corruption and interference with anti-doping rule violations.

IOC President Bach reveals "strong concerns" about IWF governance

The latest news that USAW's Ursula Papandrea has been ousted from her position as interim President and replaced with Thailand's Intarat Yodbangtoey (who was himself directly implicated in the report on corruption within the IWF) after a vote from the executive board has sent shockwaves through the weightlifting community and seems to have severely jeopardised the chances of weightlifting being featured in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

IWF Board ousts Papandrea and appoints Thailand's Intarat new Interim President

Ousted weightlifting leader Papandrea defends telling the truth

The responses from the British Weightlifting Federation and USAW to this development have been resoundingly negative as it seems that the requirements of the athletes within the sport have been ignored in favour the highly suspect motivations of the executive board.

Sarah Davies, Team GB weightlifter and recently-appointed head of the IWF Athlete's commision has started a petition to bring reform to the IWF executive board:

Sign the Petition

If you'd like to see weightlifting keep its status as an Olympic sport, I would strongly recommend signing the petition.

(@Steve Freides please let me know if this post goes against any of the forum guidelines and I'll be happy to amend it)
 
Yeah, have been seeing that all over social media. Sad developments.

I signed the petition... Thanks.
 
Sad times for the sport of weightlifting. For those reading along, most of the controversy, when viewed from an athlete's perspective, has to do with the use of performance-enhancing drugs and drug testing.

It's interesting to me that some powerlifting federations still have divisions that are not drug tested, e.g. see this Records page at the USPA:


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Sad times for the sport of weightlifting. For those reading along, most of the controversy, when viewed from an athlete's perspective, has to do with the use of performance-enhancing drugs and drug testing.

It's interesting to me that some powerlifting federations still have divisions that are not drug tested, e.g. see this Records page at the USPA:


-S-
I agree with you on this. When I completed back around 15 years ago or so if there wasn’t enough people in my class at the time I would be given an option of competing in an untested class of my weight class or being mailed a refund. Needless to say after driving hours I stayed and competed as I was just out there for myself but very frustrating using just a singlet and wraps and your going up against a roid freak wearing a canvas squat suit.
 
... if there wasn’t enough people in my class at the time I would be given an option of competing in an untested class of my weight class ...
What federation was that in? I ask because I’m almost always the only person in my class and this has never happened to me.

Thanks.

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