Former Pakistan weightlifting officials banned over anti-doping violations

Pakistan Weightlifting Federation’s (PWF) former vice-president Amjad Amin Butt and coach Waqas Akbar have been banned for four years for anti-doping rule violations.

“The International Testing Agency (ITA) acknowledges that the former vice-president of Pakistan Weightlifting Federation Amjad Amin Butt and coach Waqas Akbar have each been sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) with a period of ineligibility of four years for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs),” the ITA said in its report.

The report says that on November 14, 2023, the ITA asserted that coach Waqas Akbar and PWF’s former vice-president Amjad Amin Butt had committed ADRVs under Article 2.5 (Tampering with Doping Control) and Article 2.9 (Complicity) of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules (IWF ADR).

“The ADRVs were in relation to their conduct during an unsuccessful out-of-competition sample collection mission where four Pakistani weightlifters refused to provide samples. Following the results management process, these cases were referred by the ITA to the CAS ADD for adjudication. A hearing took place before CAS ADD on 8 November 2024,” the report said.

“On 24 February 2025, CAS ADD issued its decision concluding that both individuals had each committed a violation of Article 2.5 and Article 2.9 of the IWF ADR and sanctioned them with a period of ineligibility of 4 years from 24 February 2025 to 23 February 2029. Both individuals and the relevant stakeholders, namely IWF/ITA, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Pakistan National Anti-Doping Organisation, have a right to appeal the CAS ADD decision before the appeals division of the CAS.

“With regards to alleged wrongdoings perpetrated between 2014 and 2016 by two additional members of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation, former President Hafiz Imran Butt, and former coach Irfan Butt, the results management process has been completed and the matters will be referred to CAS ADD for adjudication.

“The ITA maintains that Hafiz Imran Butt and Irfan Butt have committed ADRVs under Article 2.6 (Possession of Prohibited Substances) and Article 2.8 (Administration of Prohibited Substances) and Article 2.9 (Complicity) of the IWF ADR and will be asking CAS ADD to confirm the ADRVs and impose the appropriate sanctions.

“Given that more than three athletes and athlete support personnel from the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation have committed ADRVs within a 12-month period, this has triggered Article 12.3 of the IWF ADR. The case against the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation has been referred to the IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel (IMFSP) to impose appropriate consequences and the proceedings are ongoing.”

It said that on March 1, 2024, CAS ADD confirmed that the four Pakistani athletes had committed violations of Article 2.3 of the IWF ADR for refusing or failing to submit to sample collection without compelling justification and sanctioned them each with a period of ineligibility for four years.

According to Article 12.3 of the IWF ADR and provisions of the IWF Olympic Qualification system member federations can be suspended, fined and/or have other rights withdrawn (including quotas for participating in the Olympic Games) when three or more athletes, officials or athlete support personnel of the member federation are found to have committed ADRVs within a 12-month period.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has already suspended the PWF and the Board also has refused to accept the results of the federation’s elections held last month.

In the last few years several weightlifters had to face sanctions due to doping reasons. And of them Olympian Talha Talib was also included who has completed three-year ban and is now eligible to return to international circuit.