IOC Executive Board makes decisions with regard to International Weightlifting Federation

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today received an update on the situation of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) following the recent release by Professor McLaren of the “Independent Investigator Report to the Oversight and Integrity Commission of the International Weightlifting Federation”.

The EB took note that the information gathered in the independent investigation is now being further reviewed and addressed by the IWF Oversight and Integrity (O&I) Commission, which has also received a more detailed report that has not yet been made available to the IOC.

The IOC EB therefore:

  1. Notes the positive steps taken by the IWF Acting President to initiate reforms within the IWF, with a focus on maintaining the independence of anti-doping operations and case management, and the modernisation of IWF governance and management structures;
  2. Notes that the Independent Investigator Report and further information not made public or made available to the IOC is now being reviewed and addressed by the IWF O&I Commission;
  3. Requests that, following the completion of this review by the IWF O&I Commission, clarification be provided by the IWF concerning the allegations against a number of IWF officials;
  4. States that no Olympic Games accreditation will be approved for any implicated IWF official following the results of the IWF O&I Commission review, nor would such individuals be allowed to act in any official role as an IWF representative in any official meeting or discussion with the IOC in the lead-up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020;
  5. Notes that WADA is now following up on all anti-doping-related information contained in the Independent Investigator Report;
  6. Confirms that the IOC will make contact with WADA to request any information related to individual cases which may be linked to the Olympic Games; and
  7. Reserves the right to take further measures, including but not limited to a review of the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, depending on any future developments and additional information made available to the IOC.

Further updates will be provided at the next IOC Executive Board meetings.

The EB also stressed the importance of the IWF continuing to respect the anti-doping policies which have been implemented to date.

When confirming weightlifting in the sports programme for Paris 2024 in March 2019, the IOC EB clearly indicated that, in partnership with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA), it would continue to closely monitor the implementation of all identified actions and programmes by the IWF Executive Board and the weightlifting family to ensure an ongoing commitment to clean sport.