MEMBERS of the newly-formed Fiji Weightlifters Association (FWA), an independent and rival body of Weightlifting Fiji, might not be able to represent Fiji in international competitions.
This was revealed by FASANOC chief executive officer Lorraine Mar after The Fiji Times reported the formation of the new association by members of the Levuka Weightlifting Club.
“Weightlifting Fiji is a member of the International Weightlifting Federation, the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and FASANOC. FASANOC is only in a position to recognise one national federation per sport and this would be the national federation affiliated to the relevant international federation. Therefore, only athletes from recognised national federations are eligible for inclusion in Team Fiji to the Pacific, Commonwealth and Olympic Games,” Mar said.
Club president Peni Tawai said the new association was formed because they did not agree with the administration of WF and called for its president Atma Maharaj to step down.
“We are now no longer under Weightlifting Fiji,” Tawai said.
“We will remain independent until the time Mr Maharaj resigns or removed from the office.”
He has done that several times already, Maharaj replied.
“Weightlifting Fiji believes that issues and problems within the sport should be resolved by dialogue between the relevant parties,” Maharaj said.
