McLaren Report Coming for Weightlifting

(ATR) The man who led the inquiry into the Russian doping scandal will do the same for weightlifting.

Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren and his firm, Global Sport Solutions, has been hired to investigate a range of issues raised against the International Weightlifting Federation in a documentary by German TV channel ARD.

The TV program raises alarms about finance, governance and doping control. Caught in the glare of the spotlight is IWF President Tamas Ajan, who has served since 2000, preceded by three decades as secretary general.

Ajan was ordered to step aside from the presidency for 90 days during a January 22 meeting of the IWF Executive Board. Named as Acting President is Ursula Papandrea, an IWF vice president and the former president of U.S. Weightlifting.

"As I have said in the past, we need someone who is not a friend of weightlifting to look into these serious and historic allegations. But if we are to get to the bottom of this, we required an investigator whose findings will be trusted and undeniable. That is why we selected Professor McLaren," Papandrea says in a statement.

McLaren received widespread attention for his work on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency from 2015 to 2017. He issued two reports that formed the basis of the suspension of the Russian Anti Doping Agency.

Papandrea says $1 million is budgeted for the inquiry. Quotes from a number of firms to conduct the inquiry were said to have ranged from $70,000 upwards.

"Professor McLaren will be free to follow the evidence wherever that may lead. A whistleblower line will be set up and a separate announcement will be made when that is operational," says the IWF press release.

"Professor McLaren is empowered to take whatever measures he sees fit to ensure each and every allegation is fully investigated and reported," says the IWF press release.

In comments this week to Around the Rings, Papandrea said she expects that the inquiry will be finished within the 90 day window of her acting presidency.

AjanCrossing the Line?

Papandrea will arrive in Budapest this weekend to spend a few days in the headquarters of the IWF. Her visit, the first since she was named Acting President, could be an early test of the working relationship between Papandrea and Ajan.

Despite being told to step aside by the Executive Board, Ajan persists in sending letters to member federations that indicate he is still IWF president.

"First and foremost: let us clear up something. I have not been suspended by the Executive Board. I am still the President of the IWF," is the first paragraph of a Jan. 28 letter to the federation leadership.

Ajan promises "all the support and all the information she requires or needs".

Another letter sentJan. 27 invites the IWF member federations to the annual general assembly March 13 in Bucharest, Romania.

Ajan signs the letter as IWF President and Honorary IOC member.

Papandrea tells ATR that technically Ajan is correct to assert he is president as he was not suspended by the IWF EB.

"Suspending before investigating the allegations seemed unfair and so we will wait for the investigation report," she says.

Athletes Demand Ajan Suspension

Weightlifters from around the world are urging that Ajan be suspended from office in addition to demands for other changes at the federation.

"Weightlifting athletes have stood silent for too long, and we now demand change. Certain members of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) leadership continue to play games and attempt to interfere with executive decisions, jeopardizing our sport's reputation and Olympic standing. And we will stand for it no longer," says the communiqué from the advocacy group Global Athlete.

"Athletes are the number one stakeholders in this sport, as without us, there would be no sport. We demand that President Tamás Aján fully step aside--as he previously agreed to do but has not been carrying out--or face forced suspension until a complete and completely transparent independent investigation into allegations reported by the ARD documentary Secret Doping--The Lord of the Lifters is completed," says the statement signed by nine lifters from six nations.

Reported by Ed Hula.