Hong Kong weightlifting bosses accused of defying Olympic chiefs over athlete cash row
- Association has refused to respond to calls for an internal disciplinary hearing, with lawmaker calling ‘uncooperative attitude’ unacceptable
The controversial Hong Kong China Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association is reportedly defying the city’s sport bosses, with its disgraced ex-chairwoman accused of continuing to pull the strings behind the scenes.
Ordered to hold a hearing by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee so the issues involving two of its suspended athletes can be discussed, the association was reportedly refusing to do so, with one lawmaker calling the “uncooperative attitude” unacceptable.
Earlier this year, powerlifters Masahito Kitsui and Raymond Fong Chai-chi accused the association of withholding money awarded to them by the government, an allegation the governing body denies.
It banned the pair from competing both locally and internationally, but found itself in deep trouble after former chairwoman Dr Josephine Ip Wing-yuk twice referred to Hong Kong as a country, comments the government called “absolutely unacceptable” and ordered officials to investigate.
“I thought that the attitude of the HKWPA would improve after the new management took over, but its uncooperative attitude is still unacceptable,” lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong said in a social media post. “If Ip Wing-yuk continues to control the HKWPA, it will not be conducive to promoting the development of weightlifting and powerlifting.”
Ip announced her resignation as head of the association days after the government ordered the investigation. However, current athletes have told the Post they believed she was still running the show.