Aján resigns honorary IOC membership

Tamás Aján, the former head of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), has resigned his honorary membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the committee’s website said late on Tuesday.

Ajan, who has been in leadership roles in the IWF since 1976, was suspended as head of the organisation on Jan. 23, after

a documentary by German public broadcaster ARD alleged the body had knowledge of systematic doping at weightlifting events.

The programme also alleged that since 1992, 23 million dollars have been transferred to two Swiss bank accounts connected to Ajan, with no record of the monies on the IWF’s books.

The statement on the IOC website noted that Aján had offered his resignation while continuing reject all charges against him.

“[Aján] explained that he had realised that these allegations are overshadowing Olympic preparations and Olympic competitions in his beloved sport of weightlifting. For this reason, with his resignation he wanted to protect the reputation of his sport and that of the Olympic Movement,” the IOC said. The IOC thanked Aján for his services.

• Hungarian anti-doping body rejects claims of systematic doping at weightlifting events

Source: MTI