IWF celebrates the ITA’s fifth anniversary and renews partnership

The IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso was recently in Lausanne (SUI) to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the International Testing Agency (ITA) and to sign the yearly contract renewal between the IWF and the ITA. This partnership, in place since 2019, includes most of the activities connected with the IWF anti-doping rules, namely the athletes’ testing, sample storage, scientific research, TUE procedures, education, results management, intelligence, and whereabouts submission process.

Representing already more than 30% of the IWF’s annual budget, the partnership with the ITA was reinforced with more resources in three specific areas: education (courses and programmes for athletes and support personnel), intelligence and investigation (enhancement of proactive actions in accordance with investigative findings), and legal support (improvement of the anti-doping violations’ management).

IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso at the ITA headquarters 

“We are very happy to renew this fruitful co-operation with the ITA, our valuable partner in the anti-doping strategy. Over the last years, the IWF has decisively improved its fight against cheating in the sport and the ITA has played a pivotal role in this merciless battle. Besides the testing programmes, many other services – such as education and intelligence – are also part of the agreement between the IWF and the ITA. This is a guarantee that all aspects of the anti-doping policy are covered and that we are 100% committed to reach a drug-free sport and ensure fair and clean events to all our lifters,” considered Antonio Urso, after the ceremony in Lausanne.

“The ITA congratulates the IWF for its continued efforts since 2019 to reinforce its anti-doping programme. Through this expanded partnership, we recognise that the IWF is taking all available measures to kick doping out of its sport. We are grateful for the trust the international weightlifting community places on the ITA and acknowledge as well the important work and responsibility that lie ahead of us. The ITA is as committed as ever to offer all weightlifters the opportunity to take part in clean competitions,” stated the ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen.

Further details on the IWF/ITA partnership can be found here