Sports: Armenian weightlifters likely to be allowed to participate in 2018 World Cup

YEREVAN, February 26. /ARKA/. Armenia’s weightlifters are very likely to be allowed to compete  in the 2018 World Cup, the head coach of the men’s team Pashik Alaverdyan, who is also secretary general of the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia, said today in a comment on the possibility of Armenian athletes’ participation  in the world championship in case Armenia’s suspension period is shortened.

The last September decision by the International Weightlifting Federation followed the re-testing of anti-doping samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Countries with at least three doping offences from those Olympics were suspended for one year. They are Armenia Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Moldova. 

The Armenian team has already missed the World Weightlifting Championship held from November 28 to December 5 in the American Anaheim and several other international competitions 

“I hope that the International Weightlifting Federation will sign on March 26 a relevant decision that will remove the disqualification of our team and allow our athletes to prepare for the World Cup and other international competitions,” Alaverdyan said.

The 2018 World Weightlifting Championships will be held in the capital of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat – from November 24 to December 5.

Alaverdyan specified that the disqualification of the Armenian national team will be lifted only if about 20 requirements of the International Weightlifting Federation are fully met. 

Last June, the International Olympic Committee warned weightlifting to do more to fight doping or risk being cut from the 2024 Paris Games. There were more than 50 failed tests in weightlifting from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics combined, putting it second only to athletics, which had many more competitors. In some weightlifting events, all three original medalists were disqualified. -0-