President of International Weightlifting Federation: Azerbaijan is both near and dear to me

Baku. 20 September. REPORT.AZ/ "I'm very happy to be here. Azerbaijan is a very close and dear country to me. Issues related to weightlifting, we discussed with the president of the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation, Jahangir Askerov", President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Tamás Aján said at a press conference in Baku.

According to Report, he noted that during the last period weightlifting as a sport faced serious problems:

"Unfortunately, the samples taken from some weightlifters who participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 gave a positive result, punishments were applied. This was a good lesson for us. The head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach called me and said that the issue had become very serious, and if it continues, weightlifting can be removed from the Olympics program. We must try to ensure that athletes do not take illegal drugs.

"If works in this sphere are not effective, the inclusion of weightlifting in the program of the next Olympic Games will be under great doubt”.

Aján noted that the recent work on the development of weightlifting in Azerbaijan is worthy of praise: "I like Azerbaijan very much, I love this country. Jahangir Asgarov is one of the best leaders of national federations. His efforts in this direction are fantastic. Also the works carried out by Vice President Tofik Heydarov, General Secretary Rizvan Rasulov and others are worthy of praise. We consider Azerbaijan a very good partner. On June 11, the Clean Sport Commission reported to me that Azerbaijan fully complied with all the criteria. Azerbaijani athletes will be able to participate in theThird Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. This is the result of teamwork."