The case involves an arbitration dispute between the Weightlifting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (WFRK), along with three Kazakh weightlifters, and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The dispute stemmed from the IWF's qualification rules for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which restricted the number of athletes a country could send based on past doping violations. Kazakhstan, with a history of doping violations, was limited to one male and one female athlete, prompting the Appellants to challenge the rules as unfair, particularly for young athletes uninvolved in past violations. The case was brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where the parties eventually reached a settlement agreement on March 2, 2019.
The settlement acknowledged the severe impact of doping on weightlifting, especially in Kazakhstan, and recognized the efforts of the WFRK's new leadership since 2013 to combat doping. Key terms of the agreement included mutual recognition of anti-doping efforts, annual consultations between the IWF and WFRK, and IWF support for discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to review the Tokyo 2020 qualification system. The agreement also stipulated that doping offenses before December 31, 2016, would not affect future Olympic quotas for Kazakhstan, while offenses after January 1, 2017, could be considered. In return, the Appellants withdrew their CAS appeal and agreed to share arbitration costs equally.
The CAS panel reviewed the settlement to ensure its legitimacy, compliance with public policy, and applicable laws. Finding no objections, the panel ratified the agreement and issued a consent award on March 25, 2019, incorporating the settlement's terms to ensure enforceability. This decision terminated the arbitration proceedings, dismissing all other motions and finalizing the dispute. The settlement reflected a collaborative approach to addressing doping challenges, balancing accountability for past violations with fairness for clean athletes. The resolution underscored the parties' commitment to transparency and the global fight against doping in weightlifting.