The International Testing Agency (ITA) has asked the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to sanction Colombia, after the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) refused to accept that three lifters had tested positive for Boldenone due to contaminated meat consumed at a training camp. IWF rules require it to sanction member federations that report three or more anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) in a calendar year and as such, Colombia could lose eight qualification spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The ITA issued its request on the same day that the IWF confirmed qualification spots for eight Colombian lifters (see below). A day earlier, the CAS ADD sanctioned Ana Segura, Yenny Sinisterra and Juan Felipe Arboleda with four year bans. It is understood that all three athletes, backed by the Colombian weightlifting federation (FCLP), will appeal to the full CAS.

Hoy @FEDEPESASCOL tiene una lucha grande por defender al país, trabajo duro pero que dará buenos frutos a la larga. Motivo para celebrar la ratificación del equipo olímpico. 8 grandes pesistas y porque los conozco 8 grandes personas. pic.twitter.com/dqTMZ9JRWc

— Alejandro Munévar (@alejandromuag) June 13, 2021