IWF and ITA discuss their fruitful co-operation in Lausanne

An IWF delegation led by President Mohammed Jalood met the International Testing Agency (ITA) this week in Lausanne (SUI) to discuss the ongoing partnership between the two entities and their common anti-doping strategies. The list of the IWF representatives also included the General Secretary Antonio Urso and the IWF CEO Achilleas Tsogas. From the ITA side, its Director General Benjamin Cohen led the discussions.

The IWF and the ITA are working closely together since 2019, with the independent agency supervising all anti-doping operations on behalf of our International Federation. The set of activities in this area comprises the in and out-of competition testing, results management, intelligence and education, TUE supervision, and storage and re-analysis of samples. This very complete programme ensures total transparency and reliability, and has produced very fruitful results in recent years.

The high-level meeting between the IWF and the ITA reinforced and praised this level of co-operation, and reiterated the mutual interest in remaining connected in a common effort to keep the sport of weightlifting clean and fair.

“The excellent relationship we have with the ITA is extremely important for us, as it shows our total commitment for a drug-free environment around our lifters. This is presently confirmed by the reduction in the number of positive cases we have when comparing the situation with the past. Things are definitively evolving in a very positive way,” considered the IWF President Mohammed Jalood after the meeting. “Weightlifting is now a respected sport in the Olympic movement and we take the opportunity to thank the ITA for its tireless efforts in this always sensitive field!” concluded Mr Jalood.

IWF Communications