Pakistan weightlifter Talha Talib set to return after serving doping ban

Pakistan is set to get weightlifting boost as the country’s premier weightlifter and Olympian Talha Talib will be legally able to join any training camp from November 25.

Talib, who is serving a three-year suspension for doping reasons, although, will complete his ban on January 24 but technically he will become free of all restrictions about his training from November 25 which will be a huge boost to the country’s weightlifting.

Talha is a big name in Pakistan’s weightlifting and he had created ripples when he finished fifth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite featuring in the major event on the basis of the universality place.

It is not yet known whether he will be able to feature in the 35th National Games in Karachi whose exact dates are yet to be announced. Technically he will also inform the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) three months in advance before featuring in any international event about his whereabouts which is very important as International Testing Agency (ITA) may conduct his dope test any time.

This correspondent has learnt that in the start Talha will feature in the 81 kilogram in any national or local event while he will compete in the 73 kilogram in international event. The reason behind this is that he cannot bring down his weight suddenly as he may get injured while doing so.

Talha’s ban is going to expire at such a crucial stage when Pakistan will need him for its 2028 Los Angeles Olympics mission.

Sources close to Talha told Nukta that Talha has been constantly undergoing training despite his ban as it is very important for a weightlifter to keep himself fit.

Talha is regarded as one of the most talented weightlifters and if he trains as per demand then there is every chance that he will be a medalist for Pakistan in the 2028 Olympics.

The ITA in its report it released on April 26, 2022, said that “it has asserted apparent ADRVs against Talha Talib and (Abubakar Ghani) under Article 2.1 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules (Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers). More particularly, a sample collected from Talib Talha, out-of-competition on 29 November 2021 and thereafter, another sample collected on 10 December 2021 during the 2021 IWF World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (2021 World Championships) have both returned Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for the prohibited steroid 19-norandrosterone.”

Now the question is that when Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) will be able to send its weightlifters to international events. The issue is that the PWF will have to pay to the IWF the fine of 10,000 US dollars as both Talha and Abubakar Ghani have been fined for 5000 US dollars each.

Nukta has learnt that PWF has written a letter to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) requesting it that the fine should be slashed down.

This fine has been imposed on the weightlifters and technically the weightlifters will have to pay but it’s not an easy task for the weightlifters to do so and the PWF will need an input to dispose of the matter which will only allow Pakistan to field its weightlifters in international circuit.

Meanwhile, four other weightlifters including Sharjeel Butt, Abdur Rehman, Ghulam Mustafa and Farhan Amjad are also serving four-year each suspension for anti-doping violation committed in November 2021 but, according to sources, they have not been fined as yet.

Sources said that they had requested IWF that their financial condition is not that good which could enable them to pay the hefty fines.

Differences with Nooh Butt

After Talha will be able to resume his international career, it would also be important for the PWF to restore its working relations with the seasoned weightlifter and 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medalist Nooh Dastgir Butt.

Nooh is not being owned by the PWF as the federation believes that he does not accept it.

Nooh recently in an interview with Nukta also offered to reconcile with anyone for the sake of the country and it would be good if Pakistan are able to win a medal in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

When this correspondent approached a senior official of the PWF he said that the federation also wants to end the differences with Nooh as he is a great asset for the country.

“But the things should be done through a process and if Nooh writes to the PWF that there was a misunderstanding and he wants to join PWF then they would put this matter before the PWF Executive Committee and it would decide. After the patch-up then both PWF and Nooh may go for a joint press conference to show that the patch-up has been made,” the official said.

“Nooh is a fine player and if he comes in it would boost Pakistan’s medal chances in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” the official said.

The PWF is passing through the most difficult phase of its history. It has not only confronted with bans on its weightlifters during the last few years but Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have also suspended it. The PSB has also written a letter to the IWF requesting it to suspend the PWF.

But the issue must be resolved as Pakistan is going to enter into a new Olympics cycle and for achieving a success it would be important that all stakeholders are on the same page.

Pakistan has never won a medal in Olympics in weightlifting. This is the last opportunity for both Nooh and Talha Talib to press for medals in the 2028 Olympics as they would not be able to feature in the 2032 Olympics due to their growing age.