Just when we thought the drama of Olympic weightlifting selection was over, an official announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been released concerning the AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes) weightlifters from Russia and Belarus.
Over the 18-month Olympic qualifying period, which ran from the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships until the 2024 World Cup, several athletes from Belarus have been competing under the AIN flag. Four of these athletes officially qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer: Siuzanna Voldodzka (-71kg), Petr Asayonak (-89kg), Yauheni Tsikhantsou (-102kg), and Eduard Ziaziulin (+102kg).
However, a few days ago, a blanket announcement was made across all Olympic sports regarding AIN athletes. As a result of the updated rules, Petr Asayonak (-89kg) and Eduard Ziaziulin (+109kg) are no longer eligible to compete.
These two spots will be reallocated to Boady Santavy (CAN -89kg) and Kamil Kucera (CZE +109kg). Boady Santavy, ranked 11th in the world, narrowly missed out on Olympic selection. Kamil Kucera, ranked 13th in the world, was given a spot due to David Liti (NZL) occupying the continental spot and Jo Seongbin (KOR) being outranked by three higher-placing South Koreans in other categories.
Below is an outline of the IOC rules regarding AIN athletes:
- Strict Eligibility Conditions: The IOC Executive Board established strict eligibility conditions for Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs) in December 2023.
- Eligibility Review: The Individual Neutral Athlete Eligibility Review Panel (AINERP) was set up in March 2024 to evaluate the eligibility of each athlete with a Belarusian or Russian passport.
- Affiliations with Military or Security Forces: The AINERP reviewed new information, particularly focusing on athletes affiliated with sports clubs of the military and security forces in Belarus.
- Quota Reallocation: In sports where the number of eligible athletes is lower than the earned quota places, those places will be reallocated to athletes from other NOCs, according to the qualification system of the respective International Federations.
- Compliance with Olympic Charter: Athletes must accept the individual invitation and sign the Conditions of Participation, which includes a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter and its peace mission.
It seems likely that new information has linked both Petr Asayonak (-89kg) and Eduard Ziaziulin (+109kg) with military or security forces.
Check out the updated Olympic spots here.
