Cyrille Tchatchet, an active weightlifter representing Great Britain, was elected to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Council (for the period 2025-2027), after an electoral process taking place between December 10-12. The scrutiny was held via an online voting platform and was available only to IFs Athlete Commissions that were registered and deemed eligible to vote. A total of 55 out of 60 IF ACs voted (91.7%).
Cyrille Tchatchet, new member of the WADA Athlete Council
The WADA Athlete Council has a total of 20 members, with eight of them coming directly from the International Federations group. Tchatchet was elected among 26 candidates to this group and is one of the four new members of the Council in this category (the remaining four were re-elected).
Cyrille Tchatchet, 29, and also member of the IWF Athletes Commission, started his international career representing his native Cameroon. He then sought refugee status in Great Britain, which he eventually got. In this capacity, he was one of the athletes selected for the Tokyo 2020ne Olympic Refugee Team, competing in the weightlifting competition in the Japanese capital. Presently, already with a British passport, he represents his new country in IWF and other major events.
His full story can be read here
“I am sincerely thrilled with my election to the WADA Athlete Council and I would like to warmly thank all my fellow colleagues from so many International Federations that supported me in this so significant endeavour for me. I also express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the IWF Athlete Commission and the weightlifting community in general for the endorsement of this candidature,” declared Cyrille Tchatchet after knowing the election’s result.
“I am very proud to represent this beautiful Sport, the one that always provided me so much happiness and unforgettable moments! This is an enormous responsibility for me, and I can ensure that I will do my best to conveniently represent the athletes’ voice in this so crucial topic,” he continued.
“It is our obligation to constantly fight for clean sport and fair competition. WADA is the leading international organisation setting the highest standards to implement that strategy – I am therefore very much committed to offering my experience and expertise to assist in this noble cause,” Tchatchet concluded.
The IWF President Mohammed Jalood was also happy with this positive outcome: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Cyrille for this brilliant election! I am sure that his work and contribution will be extremely valued within the WADA Athlete Council. He is truly a great athlete, an inspiring example of resilience, and is now keen to give back to Sport all his knowledge and expertise”.
“For the IWF, his election is also an additional proof of our firm determination to promote and ensure a clean and fair weightlifting environment. Finally, it also underlines the importance we give to the athletes’ voice and representation within our International Federation,” also stated Mr Jalood.
IWF Communications
Read the official WADA announcement here
