Weightlifting Fiji President, Atma Maharaj defended the allegations made against him and the newly appointed coach Hossein Tavakoli by one of their clubs in Levuka.
In a letter to Weightlifting Fiji lifters from Levuka have agreed to withdraw from competition because of the clubs disapproval of the newly appointed national coach, Iranian, Hossein Tavakoli.
The Levuka club also sighted its disapproval over the omission of former coaches Peni Tawai and Joe Vueti for the Oceania competition.
Maharaj says the federation opted to bring in a new coach after a discussion with former mentor Jo Vueti.
“Jo Vueti has personally told me that he will not be available and that he will be going to Noumea few weeks before the Oceania Championship and helping organizing the championships so Vueti has already nullified his position.”
Maharaj says, he is not going to step down from his post as he needs to solve the issues first.
“For me stepping down well I was never going to be long term in sports, I would have regularly, basically worked away but unfortunately now with this letter I’m not walking away at all.”
The letter was signed by a number of senior weightlifting officials from Levuka including Commonwealth gold medallist Eileen Cikamatana, bronze medallist Apolonia Vaivai, National Reps Manueli Tulo and Poama Qaqa.
