In brief
During the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, IWF General Secretary Jose Quinones warned that weightlifting risks becoming a ‘dinosaur’ unless it innovates to attract younger audiences. He highlighted the federation’s anti‑doping overhaul and the trial of mixed‑team competitions as measures to restore confidence and broaden appeal.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) General Secretary Jose Quinones stood on the sidelines of the 2026 World Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo and warned that weightlifting is at risk of becoming a dinosaur if it fails to evolve.
In an interview with Xinhua, Quinones emphasized that older audiences dominate the sport, while new sporting forms—many of which ignore doping controls—present better entertainment to younger people.
Jose Quinones, IWF General Secretary, asked a question that encapsulated the central challenge.
How can you remain competitive and clean against people who don't have the same values?
He further highlighted the continuing threat by noting the aging fanbase.
Jose Quinones explained that the sport’s traditional follow‑rate is shrinking.
The people who follow the Olympic sports are getting older, while new sports or physical activities, where doping is not controlled, are only a show with no principles, stepping forward,
He repeated his concern, stressing the need for a clean, competitive edge.
So it's a big fight, how you can still be competitive and clean against people who don't have the same values.
Weightlifting has faced intense scrutiny over its record of doping, particularly after the retesting of samples from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, which uncovered numerous violations and contributed to a substantial reduction in the sport’s Olympic athlete quotas.
Quinones outlined steps the IWF has taken to shore up trust.
We don't decide who will be tested; we decide, if it's a positive case, what the sanction will be. Everything is in third hands. In that way, we cannot control, we cannot hide anything,
The federation has increased testing, especially outside competition, and has earmarked a fixed proportion of its annual international budget for anti‑doping measures, education, and seminars.
He pointed out that the last two Olympic Games recorded zero doping cases.
In the last two Olympic Games we have zero doping cases,
Beyond anti‑doping, the IWF is actively seeking ways to make the sport more appealing to younger spectators. Earlier this year, a mixed‑team competition featuring two men and two women was trialed, and the federation is planning public‑space competitions and a refreshed international schedule for 2028.
Quinones stressed that restoring confidence requires role models who can inspire youth toward clean, principled sport.
We need role models that can bring this youth to a clean society, through the sport,
He concluded that the sport’s future depends on addressing its aging demographic and the values of future generations.
We're talking about our society, our community, the future of our youth generation.
