News

2017 IWF Electoral Congress – dates and place set

The International Weightlifting Federation will organise its Electoral Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on 29th and 30th May 2017. Official invitation, forms, documents will be sent to the Member Federations before the end of January

105 countries signed up to take part in 2017 Taipei Universiade

Already 105 national delegations intend to participate in the 2017 Summer Universiade. The 2017 SU is to take place in Taipei City, TPE, from 19th August to 30th August. Weightlifting is on the program during six competition days (20th to 25th August). Entry process is open for the National University Sports Federations using the following  online registration system: 2017 SU Taipei (Source:

Ursula Garza Papandrea re-elected as President of USA Weightlifting

Following the elections in late October where the membership elected the Board of Directors, the first Board meeting was held on 8 December in Orlando, Florida to elect the President from among the Board members. At the meeting held on the eve of the American Open, the Board re-elected Ms. Ursula Garza Papandrea as President of USA Weightlifting. Phil Andrews remains the CEO (General Secretary). Ms. Papandrea chairs one of the biggest Member Federation and also leading the preparation of the 2017 IWF World Championships in Anaheim, California, USA. The flagship event is returning to USA exactly 30 years after the first IWF World Championships for Women was organized in Daytona Beach, Florida. Houston, Texas hosted the Award winning 2015 edition. Congratulations Madam

Technical Visit in Anaheim

IWF Director General, Attila Adamfi paid an initial technical visit to Anaheim, USA, host of the 2017 IWF World Championships. Welcomed by Phil Andrews, CEO USA Weightlifting and Roy Edmondson, Vice President of Sports Anaheim they inspected the Venue and the hotels. The Anaheim Convention Center will accommodate the meetings, trainings and competitions under one roof, and the hotels around the Venue within walking distance will provide a similar comfortable concept as for the 2015 edition in

McLaren Report Part 2: Over 1,000 Russian athletes involved in state-sponsored doping scheme

  On 9th December 2016 the Independent Person (IP) investigative Commission appointed by WADA and chaired by Richard McLaren published the second part of its report claiming that more than 1,000 Russian athletes - in summer and winter Olympic sports as well as Paralympic athletes are involved in the state-sponsored doping scheme. The Report discloses that more than thirty sports - among those football - are implicated. The frauds covered among others the 2012 Summer Games in London and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games and the 2013 Track and Field World Championships in Moscow. At the Press Conference on Friday McLaren announced: there is evidence for more than 500 positive samples having been registered as negative and well-known and prominent athletes are among those involved. 4 gold medal winners of the Sochi Olympic Games and further 8 medal winner Russian athletes had their samples manipulated with. According to the Report they are able to confirm the presence of an unprecedented doping conspiracy since 2011 until the time after the Sochi Olympic Games, with the aim to have medal winners. Richard McLaren said the desire to allow the athletes win medals had upset the moral and ethical rules, has severely damaged the Olympic spirit and Fair Play. "Coaches and athletes have been playing on an uneven field. Sports fans and spectators have been deceived." He added "It is time this stops."   Thomas Bach, President of the IOC had stated, prior to the disclosure of the Report, that he would propose a life ban on those involved in the doping scandal. As a result of the first part of the McLaren Report, published in July, over hundred Russian athletes could not take part in the Olympic Games of Rio, and the whole Paralympic team was banned. Read the WADA Statement regarding conclusion of McLaren

Fein: Olympic Champion tying for the first place

One hundred and nine years ago on 9th December 1907, Robert Fein, the Austrian weightlifter was born, who became lightweight Gold medallist at the Berlin Olympic Games 1936 in an unprecedented tie for the first place. Fein got as far as 342,5 kg in total, the best in the competition, but Egyptian Anwar Mesbah performed the same result. As it happened, two winners were celebrated in the category of 67,5 kg. Fein was born in Vienna and died in the same city in on 2nd January 1975. After his Berlin victory,  in 1937 Fein received his „Second Gold Medal” when one of the highest Austrian State distinctions, The Gold Medal for Service to the Republic of Austria was conferred upon