Content in report on IWF investigation ‘deeply concerning’: IOC

Lausanne, June 5 (IANS) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a statement regarding the investigation into the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), saying that the content in the report by lead investigator Richard McLaren is “deeply concerning”.

McLaren, who led an independent investigation into the governing body, has said that the IWF was plagued by corruption orchestrated by former president Tamas Ajan.

The Canadian law professor, whose findings led to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommending Russia be banned from the 2016 Olympic Games, told reporters on Thursday that the IWF was rife with corruption.

“The IOC has received the report by Prof. McLaren and is studying it very carefully. The content is deeply concerning,” IOC said in its statement.

“We have taken note of Prof. McLaren’s appreciation of the full cooperation of the IOC in this investigation, which was commissioned by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) itself.

“As acknowledged in the report, the IOC has in the past three years required the IWF to adapt its anti-doping programme. Already in that time, the IOC significantly reduced the athlete quota for weightlifting at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and only provisionally included weightlifting in the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, subject to ongoing reforms of the anti-doping programmes and culture in the sport,” it added.

The IOC further said that shortly after the media reports in which the allegations against Ajan were made, the IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer started an investigation.

“On March 3, 2020, Ajan resigned as an IOC Honorary Member, a position he held because of his long-time IWF presidency.”

Following the conclusions of this report, the IOC will continue to support the efforts of the IWF and its Interim President to fundamentally reform its governance and management, IOC said.

“Furthermore, the IOC will contact the WADA to determine whether there are any doping cases concerning the Olympic Games, and will follow up accordingly.”

–IANS

aak/bbh/