In brief
At the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships, IWF General Secretary Jose Quinones warned that without modernizing and strengthening anti‑doping measures the sport risks becoming obsolete. He highlighted new competition formats and a comprehensive shift of testing responsibility to an independent authority as key reforms. The federation also outlined plans to preserve the sport’s reputation through role models and a new 2028 international schedule.
At the World Weightlifting Championships held in Ningbo, China, the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) general secretary Jose Quinones issued a stark warning that Olympic weightlifting stands on the brink of obsolescence unless it embraces change. During a televised interview with Xinhua on‐site, Quinones explained that the sport’s survival hinges on attracting younger audiences while preserving an uncompromising commitment to clean competition.
Quinones opened the discussion by questioning how the sport could maintain a competitive edge and uphold integrity in the face of athletes from emerging sports who do not adhere to the same rigorous anti‑doping standards. "How can you remain competitive and clean against people who don't have the same values?" he said, underscoring the moral gulf he sees between traditional Olympic sports and newer, less regulated alternatives.
He noted that spectators for Olympic disciplines are aging, while newer physical pursuits offering high‑energy entertainment and limited oversight have begun to dominate pop culture. "The people who follow the Olympic sports are getting older, while new sports or physical activities, where doping is not controlled, are only a show with no principles, stepping forward," Quinones said, pushing the point that without adaptation weightlifting risks becoming a relic.
Weightlifting has faced mounting scrutiny over its doping history, particularly after the retesting of samples from the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games exposed numerous violations that directly led to a significant reduction in the sport’s Olympic athlete quotas.
In response, the IWF has implemented several reforms aimed at erasing past scandals and restoring public confidence. One of the most significant changes is the transfer of responsibility for doping controls to the independent International Testing Authority (ITA). "We don't decide who will be tested; we decide, if it's a positive case, what the sanction will be. Everything is in third hands. In that way, we cannot control, we cannot hide anything," Quinones said, highlighting the federation’s intent to curb oversight and increase transparency.
Along with the shift in testing governance, the IWF has raised its testing budget, allocating a fixed proportion of its annual international budget to anti‑doping measures, education, and seminars. Quinones noted that the federation’s renewed focus has already borne fruit. "In the last two Olympic Games we have zero doping cases," he declared, a claim that underscores the effectiveness of comprehensive anti‑doping strategies.
Beyond cleaning the sport, weightlifting’s future depends on revamping its appeal. The IWF is experimenting with new competition formats designed to resonate with younger spectators. A mixed‑team event featuring two men and two women was trialed earlier this year, offering a fresh narrative and increasing gender visibility. Quinones pointed to this experiment as a viable model for further innovation.
In addition to mixed‑team competitions, the federation is testing public‑space competitions, turning weightlifting into a spectacle that could attract users on digital platforms and community parks alike. He described these experiments as “promotional experiments” that aim to bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary entertainment.
The IWF also announced plans for a complete overhaul of its international competition schedule for 2028. While details remain provisional, the change is intended to streamline events, increase media exposure, and make the sport more accessible globally, helping weightlifting remain relevant as a spectator sport.
Central to the IWF’s strategy is the cultivation of role models who can instill a sense of clean competition among the youth. Quinones stressed the importance of such figures in reinforcing societal values. "We need role models that can bring this youth to a clean society, through the sport. We're talking about our society, our community, the future of our youth generation," he said, illustrating the civic nature of the federation’s mission beyond mere sport governance.
Critics of the IWF’s approach argue that the federation has not fully addressed the systemic issues that led to widespread doping in the first place. They point to the difficulty of enforcing strict measures in smaller national federations with limited resources. Yet support for the IWF’s reforms comes from a growing segment of athletes and coaches who desire a sport free from the taint of doping scandals.
Looking ahead, the IWF plans to continue its dual focus: tightening anti‑doping protocols while expanding the sport’s reach through innovative formats and inclusive community outreach. By insisting on clean competition and active public engagement, the federation hopes to transform weightlifting into a civic force that simultaneously promotes physical excellence and societal integrity.
