Iran allows women to compete in weightlifting

Iran said it has for the first time allowed all women weightlifting to compete internationally.

Ali Morad, president of the Federation of Weightlifting, said that “we have created a women's committee of weightlifting in the federation and have talented female athletes”.

“They have capacities like men, and I hope that with special clothing for Muslim women, they will be able to participate in the” international race, Morad added.

Iran has the strongest weightlifting culture in the world, and in this category Iranian men have won seven gold medals at the Olympics.

Attila Adamfi, director general of the International Weightlifting Federation, said that “this is good news, and important for Iran, weightlifting is high for men, while for women it is zerox1>.

Women were forbidden to participate in weightlifting competitions until 1983.

While the international Federation has changed rules, since 1987 they participate in the World Weightlifting Championship.