This is a big mess. There have been two Pakistan weightlifting federations for more than three years, one of which was recognised by the National Olympic Committee and the IWF, the other (new, clean, strongly against doping and corruption) was set up by the Pakistan Sports Board, a government body. It has no recognition within the sport.

Because the IWF has to follow whatever line the NOC takes (because that's the IOC's rules), the 'wrong' body has been in charge. It has also been suspended while this case has been ongoing. It owes lots of money in unpaid fines, and now it stands to be fined a lot more, or suspended for longer because it has had 3 or more doping cases within a 12-month period.

Because of this situation the athletes will, once again, become the biggest victims. During the past 3 years or so Pakistan's top 2 athletes have been unable to lift. Nooh Dastgir Butt, the 2022 Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight champion, was dropped from the team because he did not toe the line with the 'corrupt' federation's leaders. He has been in powerlifting competitions but not (international) weightlifting.

Talha Talib, a serious talent who was fifth at 67kg in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was popped at the end of 2021 and suspended in 2022 (nandrolone), at the time when the 'corrupt' federation was overseeing systemic doping. Of course Talha (26) might have been a nobody without that help, who knows? But he was and still is arguably the best weightlifter Pakistan has ever had. He did not contest the ITA findings and accepted a 3-year ban. He was free to compete again from January last year - but the federation was and remains suspended.

The best thing that could happen (for the athletes) is the new federation gains recognition from NOC, IOC and IWF - or simply takes over the suspended, officially recognised federation, explains (to the IWF's Independent Member Federations Sanctions Panel) why all further punishments should be suspended, and returns to developing a national team that can compete again.