News

IWF DP Seminars in Chile

The Chilean Weightlifting Federation started to develop Basic Weightlifting Seminars in the framework of the IWF Development Program. As Chile is divided into 15 regions, the complete program includes seminars in 15 different cities. The aim is to improve weightlifting where it is underdeveloped and to consolidate it where it is strong. The last seminars for this year were held in Santiago and Punta Arenas. Participants could listen to different topics. The Seminars were very successful and the IWF intends to foot further Seminars in the

IWF President pays visit to Albania

IWF President, Dr. Tamás Aján has paid an official visit to Albania on the occasion of the celebration to honour Acad. Gudar Beqiraj, Honorary President of AWF for his 50 years service in weightlifting. During the ceremony, Dr. Aján gave Prof. Beqiraj, President of the Albanian Academy of Sciences the IWF's appreciation for his devoted service to the sport. During his visit in Tirana, Dr. Tamas Ajan spoke before journalists about the IWF strategy for the future, including a productive collaboration with the AWF. In Tirana the President  was accompanied by Mr. Elez Gjoza, President and Mr. Agron Haxhihyseni, General Secretary of the Albanian

2014-2015: 21per cent more positive samples in world sports

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published its 2015 Testing Figures Report (2015 Report), which summarizes the results of all 2015 samples analyzed by WADA-accredited laboratories across all sports, as reported in WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS).  This includes in- and out-of-competition urine, blood and Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) blood data, and the subsequent AAFs and Atypical Findings (ATFs) reported. The 2015 Report represents the first set of global testing data since the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) came into effect on 1 January 2015. Two years ago, in the WADA-accredited laboratories 283,304 tests had been made in all sports, while last year 7.1% more, i.e. 303,369 samples were analyzed. In a year's span, compared to 2014, the number of positive cases in 2015 has grown by almost 21 %. While in 2014 3,153 samples returned an AAF (positive), the same data for 2015 indicate 3,809. However, the final official data on the ADRVs will be published by WADA in

African Technical Officials’ Training Course

Within the framework of the IWF Education Program, the WFA held a Technical Officials' Educational Training Course from 14-20 November 2016 in Kampala, Uganda. The Course targeted referees and other Technical Officials from Congo, Kenya, Uganda and was conducted by Prof. Dr. Milan V. Mihajlovic. On the last day of the Seminar the Weightlifting Federation of Uganda (UWF) organized a competition “Uganda Open – Champion of Champions”, so that participants could practice the different Technical Officials’ roles after the previous theoretical lessons. Mr. Salim Musoke Ssenkungu, President of the UWF thanked to WFA for the opportunity and to IWF for the support given to organize this Seminar. (Source: Timea

Versis, a forgotten Greek hero

141 years ago, on 30 November 1875 was born one of the undeservedly forgotten heros of weightlifting: Sotirios Versis. The name of this Greek athlete is often missing even from the sports-specific annals, although he rightly deserves a place among the greatest of the sport.  At the first Modern Olympic Games held in his country, the 1896 Games in Athens, Versis placed third in the two-hands clean and jerk event after raising 90 kilograms. He placed fourth in the one-handed snatch competition, lifting 40 kilograms. Even fewer people know that he also took part in the athletic events and took a third place in discus-throw with 27.78 metres.

Lasha Talakhadze receives a Star

2016 Rio Olympics superheavyweight champion Lasha Talakhadze received the highest distinction of Georgia from his country's President Giorgi Margvelashvili: the President's Order of Excellence. In a ceremony held in Tbilisi, the Olympic champion who won the +105kg at the 2016 Rio Games with a new world record total of 473kg received a special "Star" to complete the Order, as his name engraved in a golden star was added to the memorial wall accorded to the greatest athletes in the history of Georgia. The presidential award conferred upon Talakhadze included a bonus equivalent of twenty thousand dollars "for having served his country and enhancing the international renown of Georgian sport" by his performance and victory in Rio. (Source: