In a change to their existing Anti Doping Policy, IWF made the Member Federations more responsible in case of doping violations at their jurisdictions. The new policy came into force on Sunday 15 April.
The policy has been developed based on the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code and the expert recommendations of the IWF Clean Sport Commission, to ensure the IWF demonstrates international best practice.
Among the key amendments to the anti-doping policy is a greater responsibility placed on Member Federations to ensure clean sport within their countries. Under the policy, Member Federations must ensure athletes and Athlete Support Personnel agree to be bound by the IWF’s Anti-Doping Rules.
Repeated failure of athletes or their support staff to comply with the IWF’s anti-doping rules could lead to sanctions being imposed on the Member Federation, in addition to sanctions on the athletes and staff themselves.
Member Federations must also provide the IWF with notifications and decisions related to all Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) committed at national level. Member Federations are obligated to provide the IWF with a full list of the Athlete Support Personnel affiliated to athletes within their National Team. In addition, they must provide a signed statement from each of these support personnel and ensure none of them are serving a period of ineligibility or subject criminal/disciplinary proceedings.
IWF President Tamas Ajan said: “The new IWF Anti-Doping Policy is a critical step forward in our commitment to ensuring weightlifting is a clean sport now and in the future. It will govern how we implement our anti-doping measures at international and national level, and ensure that we are aligned with the very latest industry best practice.
“The new policy makes it clear what we expect of our Member Federations. Clean sport must start at national level and the IWF will work closely with all our Member Federations to make sure they fulfill their responsibility to protect and promote clean lifters.”
To monitor how the Member Federations fare in case of these incidents and to take the process forward, an Independent Member Federations Sanctions Panel (IMFSP) is appointed by the IWF Executive Board. The Panel will have the sole direction to impose sanctions on Member Federations, in line with Anti-Doping Policy.