13th All  African Games: IWF restates zero tolerance for doping

Mohammed Jalood, the President, International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), says the body has zero tolerance to doping in the sport as the weightlifting events starts on Day 5 of the 13th African Games..

Jalood made the assertion at the opening of weightlifting event of the Games in Accra on Wednesday.

The African Games, formally known as the All-Africa Games or the Pan African Games, are a continental multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the African Union (AU) with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC).

Jalood said the federation was working with relevant international bodies and organisations to check or forestall cheating by athletes.

“We are working very closely with relevant bodies. I’m so happy because at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, we had zero doping in weightlifting. We’ve had five big competitions in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Mexico and Asian Games, no doping.

“This has shown us that the culture of doping has changed in IWF. We will continue with this and ensure that this culture is maintained,’’ he said.

Jalood said the federation intends to keep the same clean slate at the Paris Olympic Games.

“We appreciate the support of relevant international anti-doping bodies. We will continue to work with them to ensure that there is zero doping at the Paris Olympic Games. I am very happy that in some international tournaments held recently, no case of doping was reported,’’ he said.

On the African Games, Jalood said it was his first visit to Ghana and was happy that weightlifting was included in the Games roster.

He said Africa has a special place in international weightlifting.

The IWF president said top 10 countries in weightlifting, including Nigeria will go for Olympic qualifiers after the African Games.

“In April, the top 10 countries will compete in Olympic qualifiers in Thailand.

“I’m optimistic that African athletes will qualify for the Olympic Games,’’ Jalood said.

Meanwhile, Team Nigeria has won 15 Gold medals in weightlifting at the end of Day 5 of the African Games to be second on the medals table.

The weightlifting event continues at the GCB Hall of University of Ghana, Legon.

The Games which began on March 8 will end on March 23.