KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Weightlifting risks being barred from the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 unless it resolves the ongoing leadership and governance crisis.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, left no doubt about the crisis prompted by accusations of corruption, anti-doping cover-ups and vote-rigging.

Bach was speaking after the latest virtual meeting of the IOC’s executive board.

He said: “The situation with the Intefrnational Weightlifting Federation is becoming more and more grave. The executive board expressed extreme concern at the lack of significant changes concerning the management and culture.

“We acknowledged that one change within the anti-doping rules has been reversed but many other requested changes and advice from the IOC, from the International Testing Agency and from external experts have been ignored despite all the warnings we have issued.

“The executive board wants to be very clear: if these concerns are not addressed in a timely way the board will have to review the place of weightlifting on the programme of Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games.”

At least weightlifting’s presence at the Tokyo Games remains assured, providing a possible breathing space to set its house in order.

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