Islamabad/Lahore, June 27, 2026: The Interim Committee of the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWLF) has urged the federal government, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to immediately recover outstanding financial penalties from suspended athletes and former federation officials to avert Pakistan’s continued suspension from international weightlifting.
In formal letters addressed to the relevant authorities, the committee warned that unless an international penalty exceeding US$30,000 imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is cleared, Pakistani weightlifters will remain ineligible to participate in the 20th Asian Games in Japan in 2026 and the proposed 2027 South Asian Games to be hosted by Pakistan.
According to the committee, the IWF suspended Pakistan Weightlifting over repeated anti-doping violations, with the suspension remaining in force until all outstanding financial liabilities are settled. It said the prolonged suspension is jeopardising the careers of clean athletes who have no involvement in the doping cases.
The financial liability originated in 2021 when weightlifters Talha Talib and Abu Bakar Ghani were each fined US$5,000 for anti-doping violations. The committee claimed that continued non-payment has increased the outstanding amount to more than US$30,000.
It also referred to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling issued on April 2, 2026, under which former PWLF President Hafiz Imran Butt received a lifetime ban, while Irfan Butt and Abu Bakar Ghani were handed four-year suspensions.
In his letter, PWLF Interim Committee Chairman Brigadier (Retd) Zahid Iqbal criticised the Pakistan Olympic Association, alleging that it continued to support the former federation leadership despite international sanctions. He called on the POA to immediately revoke the affiliation of the suspended federation, launch an internal inquiry into the non-payment of the IWF fine, and either settle the penalty itself or recover the amount from those held responsible.
To safeguard Pakistan’s sporting reputation, the Interim Committee also recommended that the Pakistan Sports Board request the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to place suspended athletes, including Talha Talib, and former federation officials on the Exit Control List (ECL) or Passport Control List until the outstanding fines are recovered.
The committee further urged authorities to withhold future international sports accreditations from those involved until all financial obligations are cleared.
Additionally, the committee appealed to the Pakistan Sports Board to engage with the International Weightlifting Federation and seek the temporary reinstatement of the Interim Committee, arguing that such a step is necessary to protect the rights and international participation of Pakistan’s clean weightlifters.
