Hong Kong weightlifter accuses federation of embezzling prize money

Many Hong Kong weightlifters and powerlifters say they are living in hell on earth after their prize money was cut by the sport's federation.

Weightlifters like Masahito Kitsui and Raymond Fong Chai-chi publicly accused the Hong Kong Weightlifting and Powerlifting Federation of embezzling government bonuses for athletes, demanding they pay more than $120,000 in training fees, and failing to meaningfully develop the sport .

Masahito Kitsui (left) and Raymond Fong Chai-chi. Photo: Handout — Masahito Kitsui (left) and Raymond Fong Chai-chi. Photo: *Handout*

Kitsui, 46, was the world's number two powerlifter and 2014 Asian breast press champion. He said the Hong Kong Institute of Sport has a fund to sponsor elite athletes in non-A category sports, or those not covered by the Individual Athlete Support Programme.

This money was not transferred directly to the athletes, but was given by the Sports Institute to the Federations of the sports, for them to transfer to the athletes. Kitsui received the subsidy for the period 2014-2021, but he believes that the Federation has withheld more than 25,000 USD (about more than 600 million VND) that he should have received. Kitsui left the Federation in November 2023, saying that the reason he made this public was not for money, but to avoid similar situations for his juniors.

Fong, 44, who holds seven Hong Kong weightlifting records, received the subsidy from 2019 to 2022. He said the federation forced him to pay more than $120,000 in training fees.

The federation denies any embezzlement of prize money, and says there are inconsistencies in the allegations made by Kitsui and Fong. The two athletes were suspended by the federation for 2022 for “abuse of allowances”. They also claim that the two athletes “voluntarily” paid training fees to the federation.

Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, a weightlifter and Hong Kong lawmaker, has called on the government to investigate the matter. "The federation has messed up everything and made the athletes live in hell," Ho said. "They are world-class weightlifters, but they are not recognized because of this problem."

Weightlifting requires weightlifters to lift weights in three main positions: squat, deadlift, and bench press. Weightlifting is an Olympic sport, consisting of two events: clean and jerk.

Ho also accused the federation of neglecting to promote weightlifting as a sport in Hong Kong. The federation’s website only lists one championship held in the territory, in 2019. Last week, the federation announced the creation of a second championship, in March 2024. Josephine Ip Wing-yuk, president of the federation, said the event would be held annually.

Ms. Ip said the tournament will not be held in the 2020-2023 period due to Covid-19, but did not explain why there was no similar tournament before 2019. According to SCMP, there was no regional weightlifting tournament, at least from 2010 to 2019. According to the regulations of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), member federations must organize national tournaments every year.

Ho said he would write to the IWF to explain the plight of Hong Kong weightlifters. "We have to draw attention to this issue until the government steps in and fixes the situation," Ho added.

Hoang An

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