KARACHI: The Interim Committee on Pakistan Weightlifting Federation has requested President Pakistan Olympics Association to remove Imran Butt from POA to save weightlifting and careers of youth.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has inflicted life ban on former President PWLF Hafiz Imran Butt and his son Irfan Butt on Doping Charges, therefore we request the President POA to remove him from the association,” stated the press release by the Interim Committee.
The press release further stated that both the father and the son had already been banned for four years by PSB for ADRV and corrupt practices; but they were operating with impunity, with the support of their corrupt allies.
“Despite clear instruction from PSB not to conduct any elections, they managed to install a fake PWLF consisting of Hafiz Imran’s nephew as the President and a dummy female as the Secretary; while actually the affairs were being run by the banned Hafiz Imran Butt and his son,” stated the Interim Committee.
The IC mentioned that Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel (IMFSP) of IWF had already imposed a 12-month ban on the federation, commencing from June 20, 2025 pursuant to Article 12.3 of the IWF ADR.
However, the IC stated, they had concealed this fact from the concerned stakeholders including media, departments, officials and the players as they deceived them to fetch their support to extend their illegitimate hold on weightlifting in Pakistan.
“The Interim Committee expresses its deep concern on this dismaying situation and urge all the weightlifting community to shun this mafia, as the Interim Committee stands for the rights of clean and doping free weightlifters, especially the youth and the juniors,” stated the IC.
The press release further stated that despite this gloomy situation, the Interim Committee is in contact with International Weightlifting Federation, Pakistan Sports Board, coaches, and the players for the revival of weightlifting in the country and restoration of their confidence in the government policies.
It is pertinent to mention here that in a long awaited verdict the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) imposed a life ban on Hafiz Imran Butt and his son Irfan Butt for complicity, possession/administration of doping substances and other anti-doping rules violations (ADRVs) committed during 2014-2016.
