The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has welcomed a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to largely uphold the suspension of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Federation. The suspension followed extensive anti-doping rule violations by Thai weightlifters in 2018. One Thai weightlifter at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games tested positive for exogenous testosterone in October and nine tested positive for exogenous testosterone at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in November of 2018. Twenty targeted tests conducted at a training camp in October 2018 returned no fewer than fifteen adverse analytical findings.
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“CAS clearly agreed with the IWF that the widespread nature of doping by athletes under the auspices of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Federation, including no less than half its delegation to the 2018 IWF World Weightlifting Championships, merited sanctions at the upper end of the available range,” said IWF President Dr Michael Irani. “We will now work with our partners at the International Testing Agency (ITA) to ensure that there is proper education for TAWA’s athletes and coaches and believe this CAS decision should serve as a reminder of the IWF’s firm commitment towards clean sport.”
TAWA’s suspension will include the forthcoming Olympic Games and extend until 1 April 2023, with athlete participation in IWF-sanctioned competitions excluded with the exception of athletes under the age of 18 at the time of the October 2018 findings. The suspension can only be lifted as early as 7 March 2022 if TAWA meets a wide range of conditions aimed at ensuring culture change. A $ 200, 000 fine was also maintained.
