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Weightlifting has been given the go-ahead! The Court of Arbitration for Sports has given the green light for Thailand to send athletes to compete at the international level
Weightlifting has been given the go-ahead on the matter of athletes being banned for using stimulants. The Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association had filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), requesting fairness regarding doping charges of Thai weightlifting athletes and officials. In the latest development, CAS has given its approval to allow Thai weightlifters to return to international competitions.
On April 12, 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) gave its ruling to the Weightlifting Sports Association by allowing young-level athletes to return to international competitions organized by the International Weightlifting Federation. As for the youth and general category, they can return to competitions after June 18, 2021. However, if they wanted to return to the competitions immediately, the Association must pay a fine of US$200,000 (approximately 6,400,000 baht) to the IWF. Furthermore, they are still barred from participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games. On the other hand, Thai international referees or judges can unconditionally return to duties immediately.
The ruling was given following the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association’s appeal to request fairness to Thai weightlifting athletes and officials to the Court of Arbitration for Sports at Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 21, 2020, case reference number CAS 2020 / A / 6981.
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Mr. Niphon Limboonsuebsai, chairman of the International Law Working Group of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, reported on the verdict of the case, which can be regarded as final, which was given by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, or CAS, between the appellant who is the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association and the International Weightlifting Federation, or IWF. The document consisted of up to 52 pages and was dated April 8, 2021 (based on local date/time). In summary, it was based according to the Association’s main goals in the fight for justice for weightlifting personnel. The ruling is divided into 3 main parts.
The first part specifies that young weightlifters can now return to IWF international competitions as the deadline for barring the athletes of December 18, 2020, has since expired.
The second part specifies that technical officials can now return to duties and participate as international judges immediately without any conditions.
Finally, the last part specifies that the Association itself will be limited in its rights to conduct activities until April 1, 2023, and does not have the rights to organize any competitions, hold a congressional meeting, organize a meeting of the Executive Committee, organize meetings of commissioners and any other committees. The Association also does not have the rights to attend congressional meetings, as well as, the right to vote, no right to submits any motions or agenda in the congressional meetings, and are not eligible to participate in and benefit from the IWF Development Program, except for education and training sessions regarding anti-doping in sports.
However, the ruling of CAS has also provided an option to shorten the Association’s penalty by a year, which will end on March 7, 2022 (from the original date of April 1, 2023). Nevertheless, the Association also has to pay US$200,000 (or approximately 6,400,000 baht) and must demonstrate its intent with evidence of practical anti-doping practices consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code (or WADA). The evidence should be submitted to the IWF working group, which is composed of an independent external director from the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG), to monitor the performance of the Association.
Mr. Niphon said, “in conclusion, I think the Association has achieved its work at a strategic level with the goal of giving consideration to weightlifting sports personnel, such as the weight lifters and the technical staff, as the core or central to the Association’s objectives. It can be seen from the ruling on the mercy shown by CAS in this case, and we humbly embrace and respect this decision”.
“Furthermore, the Association views that there are several issues that we need to take as lessons in order to prevent similar digressions from happening in the future. The Association is shifting towards a smart sports organization with valuable international-level personnel acting as an important gear in driving Thailand towards becoming a sports power in the near future”, added Mr. Niphon.
Source:
- shorturl.asia/aYCpW
- shorturl.asia/1bpOZ
