Suspension of TAWA Athletes lifted in accordance with the decision of the Independent Monitoring Group
In its award of 8 April 2021, the CAS had decided that TAWA athletes would not be allowed to participate in IWF events until 18 June 2021, or an earlier date subject to TAWA satisfying a number of conditions. The matter was considered by the Independent Monitoring Group, which yesterday found that these conditions were satisfied and therefore lifted the suspension on TAWA athletes with immediate effect. However, no TAWA athletes will participate in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a result of the CAS award.
The suspension had effectively been in place since 2019, following a number of anti-doping rule violations stemming from 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.
TAWA itself remains suspended until 1 April 2023. TAWA’s suspension can be lifted as early as 7 March 2022, provided a number of conditions are met as set out in the CAS award. These include the education of TAWA athletes, support personnel and officials at a level which complies with the WADA International Standard for Education.
