13:22  ,  October 2, 2017

Pashik Alaverdyan: Nothing final is clear yet on Armenia weightlifters’ disqualification

By Lusine Shahbazyan

YEREVAN. – The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had decided to disqualify several national teams, including Armenia, for doping. This means the Armenian men’s national squad will not be able to compete in this year’s World Championships, which will be held in November in Anaheim, USA. 

Artashes Nersisyan, head coach of the Armenian women’s national team, had told NEWS.am Sport that the squad will not have a representative in the world championship.

Armenian Weightlifting Federation Secretary General Pashik Alaverdyan, who is also head coach of the men’s national team, had attended the IWF meeting during which the aforesaid decision was taken. He spoke to NEWS.am Sport, and commented on this decision.

“Nothing final is clear yet,” said Alaverdyan. “The sole clear information [so far] is that the relations of the Armenian national team and the teams of several other teams with the international federation have been suspended for one year. (…). [But] I can’t say whether the one-year suspension will apply to the whole team, or [just] specific athletes.”

Pashik Alaverdyan added, however, that the Armenian Weightlifting Federation will appeal the IWF decision.

“We still have to figure out what the international federation wants, and whom it wants [it] from,” added the head coach of the Armenian men’s national weightlifting team.

But Alaverdyan assured that the IWF decision will have no negative impact on the activities and trainings of the Armenian national weightlifting teams.

“There is still no need to make inaccurate statements that they disqualified Armenia,” concluded Pashik Alaverdyan. “They simply have suspended our national team’s any type of relations with the international federation [for one year].”

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