The Interim Committee of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWLF) has called on the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and relevant government authorities to immediately recover outstanding doping-related fines from former federation officials and athletes in order to restore Pakistan’s standing in international weightlifting.
In a letter addressed to the President and Secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association, as well as senior government officials, the Interim Committee stated that the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation remains suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) due to multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) involving former officials, coaches, and athletes. The federation reportedly owes more than 30,000 US dollars in outstanding fines, a prerequisite for the lifting of the suspension.
The committee said the continued suspension has deprived clean Pakistani weightlifters of the opportunity to participate in international competitions and could jeopardize their participation in upcoming events, including the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
According to the letter, fines were imposed on athletes including Talha Talib and Abu Bakar Ghani following doping violations in 2021. The amount has reportedly increased over time due to non-payment. The committee also referred to an April 2026 ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD), which imposed lifetime and long-term bans on former PWLF officials and athletes.
The Interim Committee urged the POA to recover the fines from those responsible, including former federation officials and sanctioned athletes, or alternatively pay the amount immediately to the IWF and seek reimbursement later. It also recommended that athletes and officials linked to the suspended federation should not be accredited for international events until their financial liabilities are cleared.
The committee further called for the disaffiliation of the suspended federation, an internal review of the POA’s handling of the matter, and efforts by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to secure provisional recognition of the Interim Committee from the IWF to protect the rights of clean athletes.
The letter stressed that resolving the issue is essential to safeguard Pakistan’s sporting reputation, uphold accountability, and ensure the country’s weightlifters can once again compete on the international stage.
