PSB bars correspondence with PWF

ISLAMABAD: Fears of ban on the participation of weightlifters in international events have grown even further as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has told provincial sports boards and other relevant government departments not to correspond with the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) headed by Hafiz Imran Butt.

The PWF is already under threat of ban after several positive dope tests of weightlifters and the apparent governmental interference in the federation’s affairs by having its own picked body.

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) working directly under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly barred government’s interference in the sports bodies’ affairs.

A letter addressed by the PSB to all concerned (the copy of which is available with ‘The News’) says:

“This notification is now being issued for the information and compliance of Provincial Sports Boards, and relevant government departments responsible for sports. These entities are hereby requested not to correspond with or extend any cooperation, including but not limited to the financial grants, provision of sports facilities, provision of players, holding or sponsoring of any games, tournaments, or other sporting events, with the suspended Pakistan Weightlifting Federation. All the entities are further requested to extend facilitation to the aforementioned Interim Committee constituted by Pakistan Sports Board regarding the weightlifting affairs.”

It is the international weightlifting body that holds the key. Unless and until approved and recognised by the international body, no international correspondence or participation in any international event is allowed. All those bodies working anywhere without the IWF affiliation cannot be termed legal or authentic. Until and unless supported by the international body, holding of any or participation in any games will not be allowed.

“We were not issued any show cause notices before suspension,” a PWF official said. “The right process was never adopted. No official of the PWF is involved in any way with banned substances which is solely the decision of the athlete concerned,” the official said.

The PSB says that the ban was imposed following a report from the “delegate” (appointed by PSB on the directions of Lahore High Court) citing serious irregularities in the federation’s functioning, corrupt practices, and violations of the anti-doping code. Consequently, an interim committee was constituted to run the affairs of the federation comprising Brig (r) Zahid Iqbal (Chairman), Col. (r) Hafiz Dr Zafar Iqbal and Ms. Nuzhat Jabeen.