Topic: News: NINE IRANIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS BUSTED FOR DOPING!!!

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Iran Lifters Could Take Part In Asian Games, Says IWF

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) could be set to allow Iranian weightlifters to take part in the Asian Games in Doha starting later this week after the Iranian federation agreed to pay a 400,000-dollar fine.

"The Iranian federation has agreed to pay 100,000 dollars as a first step, but has asked to pay the rest in instalments," Tamas Ajan, the IWF's president told MTI news agency on Monday.

"This is not a change of tack, as those banned will not take part, but applies to the innocents that the federation does not wish to ban," he continued.

Some nine out of 11 Iranian lifters tested positive in advance of the world championships in the Dominican Republic in September this year, and the IWF, headquartered in Budapest, banned eight of them for two years and the final one for life.

Georgi Ivanov, Iran's Bulgarian coach, was banned for life and all Iranian lifters were excluded from competition until payment of the fine.

Now the Iranian team, which includes two-time Olympic gold medallist Hossein Rezazadeh, could be allowed to take part in the Games starting Friday.

[Adrian Cadmus-Dixon]

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Iranian Federation delegation's visit and talks with IWF
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 Â In the process of an investigation into the nine Iranian athletes who tested positive out of competition before the 2006 World Championships, the Iranian Weightlifting Federation appointed a new President, Mr. Bahram Afsharzadeh (for a long time General Secretary of the Iranian NOC) and dismissed the Bulgarian chief coach and his assistants.

Mr. Bahram Afsharzadeh, accompanied by Dr. A. Shahabi IWF MC Member, visited the IWF headquarters for talks with the IWF President, Dr. Tamás Aján. Within the discussions Mr. Afsharzadeh gave detailed information including the current financial situation of the Iranian Federation. As a result of 7 hours of negotiations, the parties agreed in the following payment conditions of the fine previously imposed by the Executive Board.

The Iranian Weightlifting Federation paid 25% and will pay another 12,5% of the fine to the IWF before the 3rd of December 2006 and the remaining 62,5% will be settled before the 20th September 2007 in several instalments.

The above agreement does not effect the suspension of the 9 Iranian athletes, however, the Iranian Federation may participate in international events with other athletes.

(See also: Anti-Doping News)