Parisa Jahanfekrian blames the Iranian Weightlifting Federation for her absence from Tokyo

"I was paid $90 in three years - because I’m a woman" says exiled Iranian weightlifter

By Brian Oliver

Inside the Games

The plight of female athletes in Iran has been highlighted by a weightlifter who fled the country’s strict Islamic regime to start a new life in Germany.

Parisa Jahanfekrian, who should have been the first female weightlifter from Iran to compete at the Olympic Games last year, blames the Iranian Weightlifting Federation (IRIWF) for her heartbreaking absence from Tokyo - and much more besides.

She says she was paid only $90 (£72/€85) in three years while male athletes received a monthly salary, was forbidden from speaking or mixing with her own male team-mates, had to endure terrible training conditions, was suspended when she complained, and was treated humiliatingly throughout her time in the national team.

"We had no financial support from our federation and they would not let us have a sponsor," Jahanfekrian told insidethegames from Germany, where she relocated last week.

She is seeking refugee status and hopes to switch nationality and compete for Germany.

"The lack of financial support, lack of respect and the discrimination against women made me to decide to leave my country," she said.

"The men’s team are paid monthly salaries but in three years in the national team I was paid $30 three times.

"Truly, this was all I was given, and that was just so the federation could tell the media that they paid the female athletes.

"When I qualified for the Olympics I should have been paid a reward by three organisations - the national weightlifting federation, the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport and Youth.

"Only the Ministry paid me, and the others refused even though they said they would pay.

"I had to work as a fitness trainer to make a living, and when we went to national training camp I couldn’t work so I had to live off my savings.

"The conditions we had to endure for training were terrible, with very poor welfare facilities even at national team camps >>>