Will weightlifting soon join boxing, at the back of the class, on the penalty box of the Olympic movement? The threat is real. She has probably never been so serious. With less than four years until the Paris 2024 Games, the medium-term future of the discipline seems to be hanging by a thread.
At issue: the governance of its international body. After experiencing two decades of despotic power exercised by the Hungarian Tamas Ajan, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is today navigating through troubled waters. Its interim president, the American Ursula Garza Papandrea (photo below), was dismissed on Tuesday October 13 by the IWF executive committee.
The decision to push her out was taken during a meeting organized by videoconference, to which Ursula Garza Papandrea had not been invited. The members present were invited to vote on his exclusion. Thirteen of them voted for, three abstained. But there was none to suggest letting the American continue her interim, in order to complete the patient work of reforms begun since the forced resignation of Tamas Ajan last April.
The IWF executive committee did not just get rid of its interim president on Tuesday October 13. He has already found a replacement, the first vice-president of the body, the Thai Intarat Yodbangtoey. The only problem, but a major one: the Asian leader is considered close to Tamas Ajan. And his country, Thailand, is one of three nations whose weightlifting is banned from participating in major events, including the Tokyo Games, for having recorded an excessive number of doping cases in recent years.
Ursula Garza Papandrea was quick to react to her ouster. For the American, there is no doubt that the old guard continues to use its influence within the IWF. An old guard led by the Romanian Nicu Vlad and the Australian Sam Coffa. The first would be at the origin of the emergency meeting of the executive committee, Tuesday October 13.
« As soon as I was able to make changes, I did so, explained Ursula Garza Papandrea, cited by AP. These people have had decades to write a new constitution, they have had decades to reform, and all of a sudden they are going to do it now? I really doubt it. I have athletes, clean athletes, who are counting on me to try to make changes. But change with this group is simply impossible. »
The sidelining of Ursula Garza Papandrea has already had a double effect. The first was expected: the resignation of the deputy director of the IWF, the American Phil Andrews, also director general of the American Weightlifting Federation. “ It has become clear in recent months that not everyone has the best interests of our sport in mind, and our attempts at reform have been met with incredible resistance., explained Phil Andrews.
The second may have surprised you. On Wednesday October 14, the IOC issued a press release to express its position on the announcement of the exclusion of the interim president of the IWF and the appointment of her replacement.
« The IOC is very concerned to learn of the decision taken by the Board of Directors of the International Weightlifting Federation to replace the interim President, Ms. Ursula Garza Papandrea, the manner in which this decision was made and the replacement chosen, explained the Olympic body, without directly naming the new Thai president. The IOC enjoyed excellent cooperation with her during her tenure and fully supports the reforms she initiated within the IWF. Currently, the IOC has not received all the information allowing it to fully assess the situation as a whole. This incident and its consequences will naturally be taken into consideration by the IOC Executive Board when making new decisions. »
How far will the IOC go? The suspension of the AIBA, suggested by its executive board then ratified in June 2019 by the Lausanne session, demonstrated that the Olympic body could strike hard. It would seem logical that the IWF would in turn be sanctioned with a period of suspension. But, like boxing, weightlifting could undoubtedly retain its place in the Olympic program, under the supervision and organization of the IOC.
