Anoushiravani named Iran’s interim weightlifting chief

Former Olympian Sajjad Anoushiravani was appointed as the caretaker of the Iranian Weightlifting Federation, replacing Ali Moradi.

Moradi – in charge of the federation for more than seven years – stepped down from his role after the country’s Administrative Court of Justice on Monday upheld a ruling against Moradi’s re-election in July 2019.

The long-awaited verdict came after Anoushiravani, a losing candidate at the time, had lodged a protest against the validity of the results, calling for the Tehran-based court to annul Moradi’s second term.

Anoushiravani, 38, represented Iran at the London 2012 Olympics, where he clinched a +105kg silver, finishing second to his compatriot Behdad Salimi.

Also a winner of three world medals in 2011, Anoushiravani was the head coach of the Iranian team that won a couple of golds at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.