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Drug saga and divisions robes Ghana World Weightlifting
participation
Accra, Sept. 17, GhanadotGNA - Ghana has once again failed
to make an appearance at the World Weightlifting Champion (WWC)
currently going on in Thailand due to the drug saga against
leading lifter Majetie Fetrie and divisions at the front of
the local federation.
Information gathered by the GNA Sports reveals that the
Ghana Weightlifting Association (GWA) could not secure
funding and endorsement from the Ministry of Education,
Science and Sports due to the two issues which have been
hanging on the neck of the Association for the past months.
According to the information, the ministry intends
conducting further investigations into the circumstances
that led to the two-year ban imposed on Fetrie by the
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for taking
banned substances during the Africa Championship held in
Morocco, in 2006.
Fetrie, it would be recalled was disqualified from
participating in the recent All Africa Games held in
Algiers, Algeria, thus denying Ghana of a medal in the
sport.
Significantly, there seems to be division at the front of
the Association following the presentation of two sets of
names to the IWF for participation in the ongoing
championship.
GNA Sports gathers that the 2003 All Africa Games medallist,
Michael Abotsi sent a list of lifters to the IWF as Ghana's
representatives for the championship before the GWA sent its
list of lifters for the event.
The confusion over the lists, according to the information
compelled the IWF to seek further clarification from the
local federation before subsequently cancelling Abotsi's
list.
An e-mail sent to the GWA and chanced upon by the GNA Sports
confirmed that two separate lists were indeed sent by Abotsi
and the GWA respectively.
Further enquiries conducted by the GNA Sports at the
National Sports Council (NSC) confirmed the division as well
as the Ministry's intention to investigate the two issues on
board.
Mr Cliff Johnson Aboagye, Chairman of the GWA confirmed the
failure of the team to participate in the championship but
added that Fetrie is an individual in the team and could
therefore not be the reason why the Ministry failed to
endorse their participation.
The Chairman also confirmed Abotsi's action but wondered why
he should do that.
Counting the losses that will follow Ghana's absence at the
championship, Mr Aboagye said it would further widen the gap
between Ghana and the IWF.
He regretted that the current impasse would make it
impossible for the GWA to seek for further assistance from
the IWF to develop and promote the sport in the country.
Mr Aboagye lamented that the modest gains made over the
years by the Association might be eroded by such unfortunate
events, but added that efforts will be made to help promote
the sports in the country.
Ghana has for the past years made some strides in
weightlifting.
Members of the Association recorded Ghana's maiden medals in
the sport at the All Africa Games and continued with similar
feats at the African Championship and crowned it with a gold
medal at the last Commonwealth Games.
GNA
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