The Pakistan Sports Board has imposed bans on several athletes and officials associated with the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation following conclusive anti-doping findings by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Testing Agency under Operation JASMINE.
The individuals affected by the PSB bans include Sharjeel Butt, Abdul Rehman, Ghulam Mustafa, Farhan Majeed, Hafiz Imran Butt (former PWF President), Irfan Butt (coach) and Waqas Akbar (coach). These names were identified after investigations and testing tied to the operation.
The PSB has clarified that athletes and coaches will remain barred from competition and related roles for the full duration of their international bans, while officials are prohibited from all sports-related activities for four years effective immediately. The PSB bans will be enforced across national structures and facilities.
According to the board, the sequence of events began in 2021 when several athletes evaded testing and later returned positive results. Those cases led to suspensions that were confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division in early 2025, forming the basis for the current PSB bans.
The sanctioned individuals are not permitted to participate in any sports activity, hold office, or access PSB facilities or benefits until their ineligibility periods expire. The Pakistan Sports Board reiterated Pakistan’s commitment, as a signatory to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, to uphold integrity, clean competition and zero tolerance for doping.
Copies of the PSB notification have been dispatched to national and international bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the International Weightlifting Federation, the Asian Weightlifting Federation, WADA, the ITA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Pakistan Olympic Association.
