Newsletter – Interim Presidents Message

Dear Athletes, Member Federations, Coaches and Weightlifting Enthusiasts,

I hope this message finds everyone in good health and back to training. As a former athlete and coach in the international arena, I empathize with the difficulties that the athletes have endured. We have been able to announce the IOC approved modified Olympic Qualification System and now await the revival of a full competition schedule. The Intercontinental commission will meet mid-June to discuss and lay preliminary plans for the next year. There are online competition opportunities but of course, nothing can rival the return to the platform stage.

The other event that has dominated press and the world of weightlifting is the McLaren investigation. The investigation findings are shocking and disconcerting to say the least. We will be dealing with the aftermath for a while. Our desire to uncover truth means we must now acknowledge and address the known.

They findings afford the IWF the opportunity to rebuild and reform the organization. This is not an option but an absolute necessity. The current Constitution and by-laws are such that little to no oversight is required and the political culture that has become the norm is absolutely unacceptable. The lack of checks on operations have allowed for misdeeds that have robbed the sport from robust and responsive development. The operational goals have been misguided and have greatly affected the support to our members.

The focus of the Executive Board over the next few months must be to take the most serious of corrective measures. The Oversight and Integrity Commission will begin its work on a new Constitution and by-laws with asssistance from professionals from ASOIF (Association of Summer International Olympic Federations) and GAISF (General Assembly of International Summer Federations). We are in beginning stages but hope to make quick yet thorough work of it.

Operationally we continue our changes in staff and location while attempting to maintain services. We have signed an agreement, with the Anti-doping Division of CAS, created a Anti-doping Task Force, and concluded an agreement to give more authority to ITA and make the ADRV process and member federation sanctioning as independent as possible given current policies.

We will continue to serve you and the sport. My main goal is to create an organization worthy of our athletes, member federations, and maintaining Olympic status.

Yours sincerely,

Ursula Garza Papandrea
IWF Interim President

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