Governing Bodies
FORTY-FOUR YEAR TENURE ENDS ABRUPTLY FOR SIT-TIGHT WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING PRESIDENT
Tamás Aján has resigned as President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), where he has held high office since 1976.
Ursula Papandrea, the American Acting President, now leads the sport’s governing body.
Aján, who was the IWF general secretary for 24 years, became President in 2000.
The 81-year-old Hungarian was accused of corruption in a German television documentary that was broadcast in early January.
He repeatedly denied the allegations, which concerned alleged financial malpractice 10 years ago, and corruption in anti-doping procedures.
An IWF statement said: “The IWF Executive Board notes that an independent investigation by Professor Richard McLaren is currently ongoing, examining allegations made by ARD (the German TV station) and related issues.”
Papandrea said: “The IWF thanks Tamás Aján for more than four decades of service to weightlifting, and most notably for his work in recent years to ensure an anti-doping programme which meets the standards of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is in place.
“We can now begin the work of determining a fresh path towards achieving the full potential of our sport.”
Aján’s behaviour in attempting to hold on to power had irked many members of the Executive Board, who met for many hours by teleconference today and were still in discussions going into the evening.
It is believed that a clear majority of the Board were in favour of expelling Aján, who avoided that fate by resigning.
The 81-year-old Hungarian stood aside as President, originally for 90 days, in late January when the independent investigation began into claims made by ARD’s journalists – the same team that exposed state-sponsored doping in Russia.
That investigation is being led by the man who played such a significant role in the Russian doping scandal, the Canadian professor of law Richard McLaren.
The Board later extended the interim role of Papandrea from mid-April to mid-June, and Aján’s apparent refusal to accept being sidelined led to a prolonged discussion over his future by the Board.
He was accused by Papandrea, in a private email that was leaked to ARD last weekend, of making “insults and implicit threats” against her, including one occasion when he threatened to have her arrested in the IWF offices for bringing in members of McLaren’s investigative team.
Papandrea also accused Aján of taking part in conference calls with the IOC when he should not have done, obstructing access to IWF bank accounts, overseeing a bank transfer without Papandrea’s knowledge, conducting “business as usual” with the IWF Secretariat in Budapest when Papandrea should have been in command, and interfering in the timing and venue of Board meetings.
“You, President Aján, have not stepped into the background of operations,” Papandrea wrote.
“I believe you are no longer suited to either represent or lead this organisation.”
Papandrea was “incredibly upset” that the private email, addressed to Aján and 19 other Board members, had been leaked.
“I hope the damage to our sport is reparable as my ultimate goal is to restore the reputation,” she told insidethegames.
That reputation has taken many knocks over the years, reaching a low point in June 2017 when Thomas Bach, the IOC President, said weightlifting must address its “massive doping problem” or face expulsion from the Olympic Games.
Aján had been at the IWF during previous Olympic doping scandals, most notably in 1988 and 2000, but this one was more serious because it involved such high numbers of cheats.
The IOC stored samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and retested them: at the time of Bach’s comments 49 weightlifters had come up positive, more than half of all the doping violations across all sports.
That number has since risen to 61, many of them medallists who have been disqualified, but in the period between Bach’s “strong signal” to weightlifting and the broadcast of the ARD documentary the sport had made huge advances.
Attila Adamfi, Aján’s son-in-law who is director general of the IWF – and whose position led to claims of nepotism in the Lord of the Lifters documentary – played the lead role in devising a new Olympic qualifying system that compelled athletes to undergo far more testing.
It was praised by the IOC and led to the removal, a year ago, of any threat to weightlifting’s Olympic status.
Nine nations were suspended for a year for having three or more positives in those IOC retests, a new anti-doping policy came down harder on cheats, new commissions and panels were created to deliberate on cleaning up the sport, introducing new body weights categories, and punishing serial dopers, the IWF partnered up with the International Testing Agency (ITA) and Thailand, Egypt and Malaysia were banned from Tokyo 2020 for repeated transgressions.
It angered Aján and his IWF colleagues that the ARD programme made no mention of such reforms, and that many of the allegations in the documentary related to incidents from years ago.
But those alleged historical transgressions, which Aján has continued to deny, have come back to haunt him.
In the 14 weeks since the broadcast of the ARD programme, the weightlifting headlines on insidethegames have included “Aján moves aside as IWF President for 90 days”, “Aján resigns as honorary IOC member”, “Aján’s 44-year reign at IWF under threat as Executive Board members demand change”, “Exclusive: Angry Board members may move to formally suspend Aján as IWF President”, “Aján not allowed to resume IWF leadership in April after Board extends his absence” and “Aján faces expulsion from IWF as Board members are asked to vote on his future.”
Given the weight of opposition to him within his own Executive Board, his resignation was not a surprise to its members.
In the IWF statement Aján said, “I offered the best of my life to our beloved sport.
“When health circumstances related to the pandemic allow, holding elections would enable a new generation to start work as soon as possible on ensuring a bright future for the sport we love.”
The prolonged Executive Board meeting continued, after accepting Aján’s resignation.
The Olympic Qualifying system and IWF governance matters were up for discussion.
“In these difficult and uncertain times, the IWF is determined to provide clarity over qualifying for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics to weightlifters everywhere,” said Papandrea.
“Our athletes are our first priority and they are currently facing significant challenges and disruption.
“We therefore want to ease the burden on them and ensure that we are providing them with further details about how we will deliver a safe and fair qualification process.”
-insidethegames
The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has announced plans to establish its South-West Zonal Office in Ogun State, citing the state’s outstanding commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.
The Director General of the institute, Philip Shaibu, made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, where both parties held what was described as a highly productive discussion on strengthening sports education and development across the region.
Shaibu disclosed that the decision was formalised in a letter to the governor dated October 10, 2025, in which the NIS outlined its ongoing institutional reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
These reforms, he said, include the digitisation of training systems, expansion of coaching certification programmes, and the establishment of sports science laboratories to enhance research and professional development.
He added that Ogun State’s strategic investment in youth and sports infrastructure, coupled with its historical role as the “Gateway to Nigeria,” made it a natural choice for hosting the zonal office that will serve the entire South-West region.
In his response, Governor Abiodun expressed delight at the development, describing it as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to promote grassroots sports and talent discovery.
“This decision aligns perfectly with our vision to make Ogun State a leading hub for sports excellence,” the governor said. “We are fully committed to supporting the National Institute for Sports in ensuring the successful take-off and operation of this zonal office.”
Governor Abiodun also reaffirmed this commitment in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting that the siting of the NIS Zonal Office in Abeokuta underscores Ogun State’s strategic importance in sports development and youth empowerment within the South-West geo-political zone.
He added: “We assure the NIS leadership of our government’s full cooperation and support toward the successful take-off of this zonal office. This initiative aligns with our vision to promote grassroots sports, talent development, and youth engagement. We look forward to a strong and enduring partnership with the National Institute for Sports as we continue to make Ogun State a true Gateway to sporting excellence and opportunities.”
The establishment of the NIS South-West Zonal Office is expected to further decentralise sports administration, enhance capacity building for coaches and athletes, and strengthen collaboration between the institute and state governments in the region.
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The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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