In a long-awaited verdict, the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) has imposed life bans on Hafiz Imran Butt, former secretary and president of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWLF), and his son Irfan Butt, self-proclaimed national coach. The bans follow findings of complicity, possession, and administration of doping substances, as well as other anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) committed between 2014 and 2016.
Abu Bakar Ghani, a Pakistani weightlifter, has been charged anew for submitting false medical prescriptions and making misleading claims to the International Testing Agency (ITA) to justify the use of the banned substance tamoxifen. CAS ADD has imposed a four-year ban on Ghani, effective from 6 March 2026.
Both Hafiz Imran Butt and Irfan Butt had previously been banned for four years by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for ADRVs and corrupt practices. Despite the bans, they continued to operate with the support of allies, installing a fake PWLF leadership with Hafiz Imran’s nephew as president and a nominal female secretary, while running federation affairs themselves.
Earlier, the Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel (IMFSP) of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had imposed a 12-month ban on the federation starting 20 June 2025. However, the federation concealed this from stakeholders, including media, officials, and athletes, to maintain their control over the sport.
The Interim Committee has expressed serious concern over this situation and urged the weightlifting community to reject corrupt elements. The committee is actively engaging with IWF, PSB, coaches, and players to revive weightlifting in Pakistan and restore confidence in the sport. It has also requested the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to remove Hafiz Imran from POA positions and support efforts to protect the careers of clean athletes, especially youth and juniors.
