Global Athlete Calls on the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to Implement Independent Athlete Oversight as a Result of the McLaren Independent Investigation

5 June 2020: Global Athlete has taken note of Professor Richard McLaren’s Independent Investigator Report to the Oversight and Integrity Commission of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). This report clearly outlines the level of corruption, money laundering, doping coverups and vote buying that was systemic within the IWF- a system that has undermined the rights of every weightlifting athlete, a system that used a fear of retribution to silence athletes.

We commend Professor McLaren for his report and exposing this corruption. However, Global Athlete is deeply concerned that the names of IWF Executive Board members and member federations who refused to cooperate were not disclosed in the report.

The very same individuals that have refused to cooperate are now being handed a report to act upon. Such efforts to expose corruption may well be whitewashed without oversight.  As a result, Global Athlete calls on the IWF to appoint an independent organization, overseen by independent athletes, to determine follow-up actions that will occur as a result of Professor McLaren’s report.

Global Athlete once again reinforces its joint 9 January 2020 call with other athlete groups making it clear that engaging the athletes is a crucial step toward IWF reform. The time is now.