Increase in athlete engagement would speak directly to growing athlete voice and would ensure fight against doping is enhanced, say athletes.

25 November 2019: In recent years, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has started to make progress in the fight against doping, adopting a combative, front-foot approach to tackling what is a clear problem in the sport. However, recent statements from several members of the IWF Executive Board suggest that the organization is considering allowing the Executive Board to make the final decision on all anti-doping sanctions. This would be in stark contrast to the current situation which in changing its anti-doping policy in this way, the IWF would undermine the steps forward the sport has taken and would introduce more conflicts of interest into the sanctioning process.

As athlete representatives, we insist that the IWF upholds the integrity of the sport by keeping its published promises to athletes, namely to fully implement the recommendations of the IWF Clean Sport Commission. Specifically, the IWF must:

• Ensure an independent sanctioning process for individuals, entourage, and federations, per the IWF Anti-Doping Policy. This means total independence from the entire Olympic Movement.

• Maintain independent operation of its anti-doping program.

• Retain the current Olympic qualification format, which rewards those nations with fewer positive tests.

• Remove all conflicts of interest from processes related to anti-doping.

• Take responsibility to punish systemic efforts to cheat sport, such as multiple positive tests in a short period of time from one state or member federation.

• In addition, meaningfully engage the athletes as a part of the decision-making process. This would speak directly to the growing trend of the rising athlete voice in sport.

The implementation of these commission recommendations will only serve to strengthen and legitimize the sport of weightlifting. By insisting that the IWF uphold these recommendations, we insist that the IWF uphold the integrity of its anti-doping program as well as the integrity of the sport.

Before making any recommendations or concrete decisions, the IWF must lead the way by hosting an athlete conference to discuss how the sport’s anti-doping policy can be improved. Athletes are the ones most effected by doping and by not bringing them to the table, this will continue to result in superficial reforms. This Conference must be held by an independent athlete body that takes politics out of the decision making.